Cabinet nod puts to rest speculation on Telangana composition

By giving its nod to the creation of Telangana with 10 districts including Hyderabad, the Union Cabinet tonight put to rest all speculation about the composition of the new state, which otherwise caused some unrest among both the separatists and the integrationists in Andhra Pradesh in the last few days.
For the past few days, there had been talk that the Group of Ministers, constituted to look into the state bifurcation issue, was about to recommend formation of Rayala Telangana state by adding two districts of Rayalaseema region (Anantapuram and Kurnool) to the 10 districts of Telangana.
Barring a couple of Congress leaders from Anantapuram district, everyone stoutly opposed the Rayala Telangana idea.

The Telangana protagonists here literally jumped in joy as Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde announced the Cabinet's decision to carve out a separate state with 10 districts in tune with the resolution adopted by the Congress' Working Committee (CWC) on July 30.
At the same time, the decision left the votaries of united AP in certain disillusionment as the Centre ignored the majority opinion and decided to split the state.
The Centre did not offer any consolation to the integrationists by deciding not to grant any special status (read Union Territory) to Hyderabad except stating that the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation area will remain the "common capital region" for a period "not exceeding ten years".

But the main question on everyone's mind now is whether the AP State Re-organisation Bill-2013 will get Parliament's approval in the ongoing winter session or, if not, when.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who is leading the united AP protagonists, is said to be drawing up plans to see that the proposed Bill does not go to Parliament in the winter session.
In such case, the Centre has to either convene a special session of Parliament in January to get the Bill through or wait for the Budget session.
Congress leaders from Seemaandhra feel that the party would be caught on the backfoot if it faced a rout in the Assembly elections in four states, including Delhi.

In the event, they feel the State Re-organisation Bill could be put on the backburner.
More drama is expected to unfold, particularly in the Congress' Seemaandhra camp in the next few days as the state Assembly sits for its winter session from December 12 during which the bifurcation issue will be the main agenda.