Upset, Chidambaram stays away from GoM
New Delhi: All is not well in the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Telangana. Finance Minister P Chidambaram has been keeping himself away from the recent meetings of the GoM, constituted by the Centre to work out modalities on bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, exposing chinks in the key machinery.
Chidambaram, who was the first to announce the Centre's intention to initiate the process for formation of Telengana state, is reported to be sulking because of differences with his cabinet colleagues Sushil Kumar Shinde and others on the methods to be followed for division.
Highly placed sources indicated that the FM had advocated replicating the 'Chhatisgarh' model in Andhra Pradesh to facilitate the proposed bifurcation.
Chidambaram's contention was that this would make things not only simpler but also faster and the target of creating Telengana could be achieved within a desired time frame.
However, other members of the GoM found it difficult to agree to this as the creation of Chhatisgarh in 2000 did not involve complexities regarding sharing of river water, power or even the capital city as is being faced in AP.
Official sources, however, were evasive about PC not attending the recent GOM meetings. They said he had too many engagements in the Ministry. The Finance Minister is not expected to participate in every discussion, they claimed.
The GoM wound up its exercise of interacting with the representatives of political parties this afternoon. It has summoned Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy to hear his point of view.
The Chief Minister, who has been consistently challenging the high command's decision on bifurcation, has been asked to meet the GoM and explain his position in detail on Thursday evening.
Though sources made it clear that even if the CM reiterated his rigid stance, which he is expected to do, it may not have any impact on the final outcome as the GoM has already put the issue on a fast track.
News Posted: 13 November, 2013
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