Cong mulling resolution on statehood demand in AP assembly

With many of its plans to break the impasse over the Telangana issue coming unstuck, the Congress is now reportedly toying with the idea of moving a resolution on the statehood demand in the next session of Andhra Pradesh Assembly.
Congress circles were abuzz with this talk today even as its leaders from Telangana are set to organise a public meeting here tomorrow to proclaim that the party would indeed grant statehood to the region as per the announcement made on December 9, 2009.
Incidentally, the announcement made on December 9 by the then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram referred to moving a "resolution" in the Assembly but it was not moved because of the changed political equations within the ruling party as well as the main opposition Telugu Desam Party.

But now, with all other possible options not working, the Congress is contemplating moving a resolution in the next session of the Assembly, according to party sources.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, during his visit to New Delhi this week, discussed the issue with the Congress leadership and the possible fallout of the resolution.
Upon his return, Kiran's close confidants spread the 'resolution' talk even as the possibility of the Centre announcing a "special package" became the centre-point of the statehood debate in the last few days.

Going by the numbers in the Assembly, any resolution on the statehood issue is bound to get defeated as legislators from Andhra-Rayalaseema regions (175) outnumber those from Telangana (119).

Knowing it well and even stating that a resolution in the Assembly was not required as per Article 3 of the Constitution, the pro-Telangana parties like TRS, BJP and CPI have been insisting on the resolution.
They almost did not allow the Assembly function in the last three years on the issue and were occasionally joined by TDP legislators from Telangana.
By moving a resolution and getting it defeated, the Congress would like to lay the Telangana issue to rest and also expose it's political rivals like TDP and YSR Congress, according to a source.
"Now that other options (like a special package or creation of Rayala-Telangana) are being opposed, moving a resolution in the next session of the Assembly is an option that is being seriously considered.

"After all, this has been the main demand of TRS and other parties that are claiming to be in favour of a separate state," a government Whip and close confidant of the Chief Minister pointed out.