WHAT'S COOKING: AICC general secretary Ambika Soni and other leaders tasting the culinary fare for delegates as Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy looks on at a review of arrangements for the AICC plenary at Gachi Bowli Stadium on the outskirts of Hyderabad on Friday. Photo: Satish H.

Hyderabad: The AICC delegation consisting of Ambika Soni, Digvijay Singh and Motilal Vora has ruled out any official discussion on Telangana statehood at the coming plenary.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Ms. Ambika Soni said: "Telangana will not be discussed in the manner others want us to. If any individual wants to raise it, one may as well do it. But whatever will be said will be treated as someone's personal opinion alone."

Naidu charge `childish'

Ms. Soni termed the allegations of misuse of official machinery "silly" and asked the political rivals to get involved in some constructive activity, instead. TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu's allegations of phone tapping were also rubbished as `childish.'

The AICC was not planning to invite delegates from friendly parties or coalition partners as it did not want to crowd it. "We already have more than 10,000 delegates attending it. There is no point in overdoing it. We prefer to retain it as a family affair," Ms. Ambika Soni said. The plenary would be a simple affair reminding the delegates the contribution of the past presidents and eminent leaders.

Final review

The AICC would have a final review of the plenary in New Delhi on Monday. "This session is going to be memorable one for us as the arrangements are exceptional. We cannot find fault with anything", Mr. Digvijay Singh said.

The team was closeted with the Chief Minister, Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy, the PCC president, K.Keshava Rao and the political advisor to the Chief Minister, K.V.P.Ramachandra Rao and reviewed the arrangements in the morning.

Later they visited the facilities chosen to lodge the delegates and expressed satisfaction. Going round the venue of the plenary they suggested minor changes. At the request of the photographers and television channels they directed the PCC to accommodate the lens men nearer to the podium.

The team inspected the temporary office accommodation coming up for the AICC president and the Prime Minister's Office nearby. Two locations were chosen and the final decision would be taken after security clearance.

The delegation later had lunch prepared by the catering firm hired for the plenary and approved the menu. They directed the food committee headed by the Minister for Agriculture to ensure quick service during the plenary by deploying a large contingent of volunteers.

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