TDP to boycott GoM meet with AP political parties

YSR Congress Party has, however, decided to send its delegation to the meeting to register its protest against the proposed bifurcation

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has decided to boycott the meeting called by the Group of Ministers on Telangana with political leaders from Andhra Pradesh seeking to elicit their views on the process of bifurcation of the southern state.

"TDP is not attending the meeting as the Centre failed to take all stakeholders into confidence while proceeding with the bifurcation move," party leader and Lok Sabha MP Modugula Venugopala Reddy told PTI.

"It (the Centre) is not considering the views of the state Assembly on the bifurcation issue," he said, adding that justice should be ensured for both the Seemandhra and Telangana regions.

TDP's rival, the YSR Congress Party headed by Jaganmohan Reddy, has, however, decided to send its delegation to the meeting which would register its protest against the proposed bifurcation.

Interestingly, YSR Congress has included a leader from the Telangana region in the delegation who would be speaking for the united Andhra cause.

Nellore MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy said YSR Congress would be represented at the meeting by senior leaders MV Mysoora Reddy and Gattu Ramachandra Rao.

"Rao, who hails from Khamam in Telangana, is for a united Andhara Pradesh. They will be meeting the GoM on November 13 to reiterate our demand that Andhra Pradesh should not be bifurcated," Rajamohan Reddy said.

The GoM, set up to look into the bifurcation, will separately meet with representatives of eight political parties from Andhra Pradesh on November 12 and 13.

Members of Congress, BJP, TDP, CPI, CPI(M), Telangana Rashtra Samithi, YSR Congress and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen have been called to meet the GoM and share their views on the bifurcation and the allocation of assets, river waters, etc. Between the new Telangana state and Andhra Pradesh.

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde chairs the GoM.