Uncertainty on Telangana creation persists

"The process of negotiations is continuing and no decision will be possible till a consensus is arrived at (on the demand for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh)," is reportedly the refrain of Congress leaders.

A group of ministers from Telangana region who held "talks" with the Congress top brass in New Delhi last week were given to understand that the party would take its time before announcing anything concrete on the statehood issue.

"We may have to wait till the end of Parliament's Budget session next year," one of the ministers, who was part of the group, said on his return here.

Given its preoccupation with too many other issues, including the forthcoming elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, the Congress leadership was not in a position to focus its attention on Telangana, he pointed out.

In fact, the ministers' trip to New Delhi was not exactly to exert pressure on the party high command or extract an announcement on the vexatious issue.

It was only a "face-saving" exercise in the wake of mounting pressure from the statehood protagonists here.

The Congress MPs from the region too silently disappeared from the scene after making some noise late last month when the Telangana march was held in Hyderabad.

On his part, Telangana Rashtra Samiti president K Chandrasekhar Rao, the self-styled torch-bearer of the statehood movement, has retreated into his farm house in Medak district after spending a month in New Delhi.

He told various Telangana groups -- off the record -- that a separate state would happen by Dussehra but the festival ended today without bringing any cheer for them.

"After the repeated statements by Congress leaders in New Delhi, if anyone still believes Telangana state will become a reality, they will only be fooling themselves," political observer N Radhakrishna remarked.

There are many who share his view.