Cong leadership discusses Telangana issue

Amid speculation that a decision on Telangana issue is expected soon, Congress top brass including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party president Sonia Gandhi held deliberations this evening.

While the meet discussed Telangana, there was no decision, party sources said adding that the issue of forming a coalition government with JMM in Jharkhand also came up.

With Lok Sabha as well as Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh not far away, the party is under increasing pressure from its Telangana leaders to take a decision on the separate statehood issue. The state is divided on regional lines in the matter.

A part of Andhra Pradesh, the Telangana region has seen frequent agitation in the last four years and many party leaders believe that any more delay would harm Congress' prospects in the electorally crucial state.

Congress had achieved spectacular successes in the state in last two Lok Sabha elections and its rich tally proved crucial to the party forming successive governments at the Centre.

In Jharkhand, Congress has already decided to join hands with Shibu Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha to form a government.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde were also present in the meeting held at Singh's residence.