Governor makes Naidu, KCR feel 'At Home'

Hyderabad: Even as a bitter cold war is brewing between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on various contentious issues including the conduct of EAMCET and sharing of Krishna waters, Governor E S L Narasimhan on Monday once again took the initiative to sort out the differences by holding a meeting with the Chief Ministers of both the States. The venue was Raj Bhavan where the Governor hosted 'At Home,' the annual post-Republic Day ritual.

Narasimhan held a 45-minute long closed door meeting with Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his AP counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu to convince them to find an amicable solution to the contentious issues through dialogue.

According to sources, the two Chief Ministers discussed the issue of EAMCET to find a solution to the ongoing deadlock on the issue between the two States. The Governor is learnt to have mooted a proposal that Telangana and Andhra Pradesh hold the entrance exam every alternate year for the benefit of the students of both the States.

It is not immediately known whether KCR and Naidu agreed to the proposal. Similarly, the Governor also advised the two Chief Ministers to have a thorough dialogue to sort out the controversy over release of water from Krishna River at Nagarjunasagar and Srisailam for irrigation, power and drinking water purposes.

Both the Chief Ministers also reportedly discussed on the issue of possibility of keeping the All India Service Officers, who were working in either of the States against their cadre allotment, on deputation basis in their respective States.

They reportedly expressed consent to explore options of deputation. Senior IAS officers like Poonam Malakondaiah and GHMC Commissioner Somesh Kumar, who are working in Telangana State, have been allotted to AP cadre by the Center recently.

The Governor kept both the Chief Ministers in good stead and went to claim that they were happy. 'You can see both of them (KCR and Naidu). They are standing next to me with a smile on their faces. Both of them are happy to be here,' Narasimhan said while talking to media persons just before the conclusion of At Home program.

The Governor expressed his happiness over the Republic Day celebrations and added that people of the both States had celebrated the function with much aplomb and gaiety. 'Everybody is happy on this momentous occasion. This happiness will continue in future also,' he said.

The Governor parried the question on the contentious issues between Telangana and AP with his signature smile. Earlier, accompanied by the two CMs, the Governor and the first lady of the State Vimala Narasimhan personally greeted all the guests.

The function also saw both the CMs engaging in an animated discussion on various issues. The site of both the CMs talking to each other attracted the attention of all the guests present at the venue.