Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

BJP alone can decide on separate Telangana, says Dattatreya

By Our Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA, MARCH 8. Notwithstanding his party's electoral alliance with the Telugu Desam Party, a protagonist of united Andhra Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Minister of State, Bandaru Dattatreya, asserted here on Monday that the resolution of the issue of a separate Telangana State was possible only with the BJP.

Talking to reporters at the Gannavaram Airport on Monday, Mr. Dattatreya recalled that the BJP had made a strong demand for a separate State during its Kakinada conclave in 1998 with the catchy slogan of "one vote-two States.'' But as the demand did not evoke much response at that time from the people, and in deference to the wishes of the Telugu Desam Party, the BJP had to push the issue to the backburner. The BJP was not pursuing the issue as it was adhering to the NDA agenda.

"However, in case there is a strong demand and if the NDA Government is in power, we can consider the issue, as the BJP has always stressed the need for smaller States," Mr. Dattatreya said in response to specific queries.

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