The Hindu : Front Page : ‘No bill on statehood for Telangana in Parliament’

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Monday, Nov 24, 2008
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‘No bill on statehood for Telangana in Parliament’

Congress seniors unhappy with Moily’s remark

Verappa Moily

HYDERABAD: AICC general secretary M. Veerappa Moily has for a second time in two days ruled out the possibility of introduction of a bill on statehood for Telangana in Parliament citing lack of political consensus.

Immediately after he made the remarks again on Sunday morning, senior Congress leaders went into a huddle at CWC member G. Venkataswamy’s residence. Former APCC president K. Keshav Rao, V. Hanumanth Rao, MP, K. R. Amos, B. Kamalakar Rao, K. Yadava Reddy, MLCs, and former chairman of Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh Sridhar Reddy discussed the implications. Some leaders also took up the issue with the Union Minister S. Jaipal Reddy.

Later, Mr. Venkataswamy and Mr. Keshav Rao left for New Delhi to meet party leaders.

The leaders are believed to have expressed unhappiness with Mr. Moily’s “open statement” saying it could damage the prospects of the party in the Assembly elections.

They felt at a time when the party high command was “giving positive signals”, such a statement could confuse the cadres in Telangana. They referred to APCC president D. Srinivas’s assertion that the high command was serious about resolving the issue before the elections.

They were also not happy with the way TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao was being blamed for the delay in taking a decision on statehood and hinting at going alone in the next elections.

DS’ contradiction

They felt an alliance with the TRS would ensure that the party retains power for sure.

If the TRS was left out, it could join hands with the TDP and Left parties which could make a ‘winning combination’.

Mr. Moily, who attended the wedding of Union Minister Renuka Chowdary’s daughter here, in a chat with reporters reiterated his remarks made on Saturday. While blaming Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao for the delay in taking a decision on statehood, he said the party would retain power even if it contested on its own.

But in Warangal, APCC president almost contradicted Mr. Moily saying all parties now supported Telangana and the Congress too would take a decision soon.

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