Telangana so close yet so far
HYDERABAD: The Congress in Andhra Pradesh is as divided as the people of the state on the question of bifurcation.
Ranged on one side is Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, a votary of united Andhra Pradesh, while his deputy Damodar Rajanarasimha, a separatist, is on the other side. APCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana is for now playing neutral not sure which way Delhi would swing.
Friday's meeting of the Congress core group on Telangana statehood exposed not only the national party's dilemma and procrastination on the contentious issue but also brought to fore the intense divide within its ranks in the state.
From what turned out at the meeting, Kiran strongly pleaded for keeping the state united, his deputy argued for a division while Botcha discussed the pros and cons of both positions, though leaning towards the stance that the chief minister took.
It is 2:1, was how both leaders from coastal Andhra and Telangana described what the trioka did at the core group attended by Prime Minister and Congress president, among others.
This is not the first time that the differences between the three have come to fore. Ever since Kiran took over as chief minister in November 2011, all the three tread different paths.
Rajnarsimha has always nursed the feeling that the No 1 man never gave the kind of respect or recognition that is due to the second-in-command. Whenver Kiran visited Rajanarasimha's native Medak district in Telangana, the latter made sure that he was preoccupied with something else.
The tussle between Botcha and Kiran turned much worse with the chief minister going to the extent of using the Anti-Corruption Bureau to silence the party chief once he smelt that he was eyeing the top post.
But, with Delhi now dropping too many hints that it is tilting towards dividing the state, it became a political compulsion for Botcha to prefer united Andhra Pradesh, coming as he does from Coastal region which is against bifurcation.
This is a change of stance for Botcha, who had earlier argued that he was not against division. With elections less than a year away, he cannot be seen as one who went with division for his political fortunes lie in coastal region and not Telangana.
While the core group patiently heard everyone including the chief minister, what has not gone down well with the high command was Kiran Reddy's veiled threat to quit if the state is divided.
'The chief minister was reprimanded for creating such an impression forcing him to issue a statement that he never intended to resign as a threat measure,' a top leader said.
'It is true that Congress state leaders are divided on the issue,' admitted AICC secretary V Hanumanth Rao. The differences are likely to continue when the Congress Working Committee (CWC) discusses the Telangana issue at its meeting likely to take place next week.
The lone CWC member from Andhra Pradesh G Sanjieeva Reddy hinted at such a possibility saying CWC members from other states are unlikely to accept a proposal for division of Andhra as it could open up a Pandora's Box in other states.
'I have been asked to be available next week for a meeting of the CWC. I, for myself, feel that the best option is to provide a package to Telangana or create an autonomous council for the region. Telangana has better prospects of development only in a united state,' Sanjiva Reddy said.
N Kiran Kumar Reddy's defence
■ If state is divided, there would be a resurgence of Naxalite problem because Telangana shares border with Chhattisgarh.
■ As the capital city of Hyderabad will be in Telangana, there would be a drastic cut in revenues in Andhra and Rayalaseema.
■ Sharing of river waters would throw up problems.
D Rajanarasimha's Defence
■ There is no Naxalite problem in Telangana now. If there is any such problem, it is in north coastal Andhra.
■ Injustice was done to Telangana since it was ruled by Andhras for a major period since the state formation.
■ Telangana demand is an expression of the desire for self-rule by the people of the region.
B Satyanarayana's defence
■ Sentiment for separate state is strong in Telangana.
■ Sentiment for state unity is strong in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.
■ As regards Hyderabad, Andhras too have sentimental attachment.
■ Both arguments sound reasonable. Difficult to take sides.
News Posted: 14 July, 2013
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