Congress adding Rayala spice to Telangana

NEW DELHI: The Centre's move for creation of a separate Telangana State has been filled with endless twists and turns, the latest being the political proposal, seemingly coming from the top, of including two more districts making the new entity Rayala Telangana rather than just the T State.

Interestingly, the proposal of adding the two backward districts of Anantapur and Kurnool to Telangana has been revived at a time when the shape and separation plan of the new State are about to get Union Cabinet's approval.

The idea was originally floated around the time the Congress Working Committee passed a resolution favouring bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. However, it was buried after strong protests from Telangana votaries who saw in it a plan to dilute Telangana's identity.

Union Minister Jaipal Reddy echoed those views, saying the proposal had come in too late in the day. Had it come in the beginning, the GoM could have taken a view on it. It may not be acceptable to supporters of Telangana at this late stage, he said.

Be that as it may, the latest idea, sources say, has come from the very top- Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. 'It is driven by both administrative and political considerations,' the sources said.

The Union Cabinet is expected to clear the proposal Wednesday or Thursday. It is being said that the GoM that is preparing the blueprint for the geographical, financial, administrative and political division of AP, decided to add Kurnool and Anantapur to Telangana on request from the grass-roots- village councils and Panchayats of the two districts.

It was not before the GoM earlier, a member of the panel confirmed. The Congress high command, it seems, has recently got feedback that bifurcation could benefit the TRS and YSRC more than the grand old party.

With this move, in one stroke, the Congress leadership feels it will be able to contain Jagan in Seema and blunt the TRS edge in Telangana. With 2014 elections expected to be a close fight between the Congress and Modi-led BJP, it seems, the party does not want to take any chances.

If the two proposed States have equal number of seats, 21 in the Lok Sabha and 147 in the Assembly, there are more chances of the Congress faring better than expected.

The anger of Seemandhra can be reduced and the positive rip-off from the T-state can be increased. However, it needs to be seen whether the BJP would oblige the Congress and the UPA government to pass a State bifurcation Bill in Parliament that is heavily loaded in the latter's favour.

Already there are murmurs that the BJP may not support the Bill on the ground that not enough ground work has been done- it was expected to come up in the winter session beginning December 5. But the new proposal may delay the process of Cabinet approval and push the Bill to the next and last session of the 15th Lok Sabha.

Whatever the shape of the new State, sources asserted Hyderabad will remain the common headquarter for the two divided states, with the Governor being incharge of the city's law and order.

As for the Election Commission, a senior official said, 'The Commission will have no problem holding elections to the state(s) on schedule, provided the boundaries are drawn along the existing district boundaries without dividing them up.'