Congress Core group okays Telangana draft bill

New Delhi: The bifurcation process crossed a crucial milestone on Friday with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi giving her nod in principle to the draft Bill on Telangana at the Congress Core Committee meeting held at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence.

All the biggies of the ruling party including Defence Minister A K Antony, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Sonia's political advisor Ahmed Patel were present at the 90-minute long meeting.

Cabinet likely to meet on Nov. 25 to approve the draft bill Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal appeared before the core committee to give his opinion on some legal issues like amendment to the Article 371-D and the nature and scope of the common capital of Hyderabad for both the States for the next 10 years.

In his 40 minute presentation, Sibal is understood to have made some suggestions including making Hyderabad as Union Territory or amending the Constitution to provide some safeguards to the interests of Seemandhra leaders in Hyderabad during the 10-year period when it would be the common capital.

The core committee also discussed the controversy over Bhadrachalam. It is learnt the committee decided to keep Bhadrachalm in Telangana, while including some villages which are likely to be submerged under Polavaram project, in the Seemandhra region.

After this, the draft bill, facilitating formation of Telengana State, is likely to be taken up by the Union Cabinet on November 25. The earlier plan of the Centre to hold the cabinet meeting on November 28 seems to have been fast tracked keeping in view of the prolonged process ahead before the new State comes into existence in totality.

The decision to advance the cabinet on the crucial Telangana Bill has also been prompted by the fact that the draft bill needs to be sent to the President who would then forward it to the Assembly.

The Assembly is likely to be given two weeks' time to voice its opinion on the bill. The bill would then be introduced in the Parliament. In all likelihood, it would be tabled in the Parliament a couple of days before the conclusion of winter session by December 20.

The core committee also took into consideration the emerging situation in the State including the reports that Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy was trying to prorogue the Assembly so that the reconvening of the House could be delayed.

Though a clear picture on the schedule of the next course of process is expected next week, it is believed that the matter would be referred to the State Assembly early next month.