TDP to write to PM on AP bifurcation issue

It has decided not to respond to the Union Home Ministry's letter seeking suggestions from various political parties on the state division issue

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will write a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh questioning how the Centre can go ahead with the process of bifurcating Andhra Pradesh without doing "equal justice" to all regions, party sources said.

As such, the party has decided not to respond to the Union Home Ministry's letter seeking suggestions from various political parties on the state division issue.

"There is no point in responding to MHA's request as the Centre is arbitrarily trying to divide the state. So, we will instead write to the Prime Minister on the issue," a politburo member said.

TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu discussed the issue extensively with leaders from Seemaandhra and Telangana regions here in the last two days and expressed serious displeasure over the manner in which the Centre was seeking to go ahead with the bifurcation process without addressing the concerns of one region.

"We have requested the Centre to engage Joint Action Committees of both regions in talks to resolve contentious issues and address the concerns raised by Seemaandhra people. But the Centre remained indifferent. It's not proper on its part to act in a manner causing injustice to one region," Chandrababu reportedly told his party leaders.

The Seemaandhra leaders reportedly asked the TDP chief not to respond to the Union Home Ministry's request since the Centre was seeking to divide the state arbitrarily.

The Telangana leaders, on the other hand, took exception to the statements being made by some of their Seemaandhra colleagues, saying they were damaging the party's interests.

They, in particular, wanted disciplinary action against senior MLA Payyavula Keshav, who filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the bifurcation.

Chandrababu will hold further talks with the party leaders on the contents of the letter to the Prime Minister, sources said.