Hyderabad, July 31: Ministers and elected representatives from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions are busy finalising the strategy to reverse the decision of Congress High Command of formation of Telangana State.

The ministers from Seemandhra region on Wednesday held a marathon meeting with Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to discuss the future course of action in view of Congress Working Committee’s decision to grant statehood to Telangana region. According to sources, a majority of ministers wanted the mass resignations strategy to be adopted to pressurise the High Command. However, a few senior ministers were in favour of stalling the process of Telangana formation through different means.

With just a few months left for the General Elections, some Seemandhra ministers were of the view that they should delay or drag the process at every stage to ensure that the Telangana Bill does not get introduces in the 15th Lok Sabha, whose term expires on May 31, 2014. Since Congress High Command is completely in favour of Telangana and it has made its opinion public, the ministers felt that it would not reverse its decision immediately fearing political repercussions. However, by delaying the process, the Telangana issue could be dragged to the next government.

The Seemandhra ministers will meet the Chief Minister again at 7 PM on Thursday to take a final decision.

Meanwhile, the elected representatives from the Andhra and Rayalaseema region have conducted a meeting at 12 noon on Thursday at MLAs’ Quarters to discuss future course of action. Based on their decision, the Seemandhra ministers, along with the Chief Minister, will finalise the next strategy.

New Delhi, July 29: At least 15 out of 19 Congress Lok Sabha MPs from Andhra and Rayalaseema region may resign from the post and party on Tuesday.

The decision to give en-masse resignation was reportedly taken in the meeting of Seemandhra MPs held at union minister Pallam Raju’s residence here late Tuesday night. Union Minister Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, JD Seelam, KVP Ramchandra Rao, Lagadapati Rajagopal and K Bapiraju were among the MPs who attended the meeting. According to sources, the MPs, in principle, have decided to put in their papers if the party High Command refuses to defer the decision Telangana.

The MPs will meet again on Tuesday morning at the residence of K Bapiraju to take the final decision. A few MPs were of the opinion that their continuance with the Congress party was meaningless if they could not convince the High Command against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. Therefore, they are now planning to topple the UPA Government if it decides in favour of Telangana.

After the DMK pulled out of the UPA in March this year, its strength was reduced to 242 from 260. However, with the outside support of SP (22), BSP (21) and RJD (4) the Congress-led coalition had more strength than the magic number of 272 in the 543-member Lok Sabha. The Seemandhra MPs are now planning to use the same equations in their favour to halt Telangana. Congress has 19 members from Andhra and Rayalaseema region. If other six members from the region support them and Samajwadi Party, which is against Telangana, extends a helping hand, then the survival of UPA-Government at the Centre would be difficult.

Although it would be premature to predict that the Seemandhra MPs would go to the extent of toppling the Congress-led Government, some MPs gave clear indications that they might go any extent to prevent division of Andhra Pradesh.

Hyderabad, July 29: In view of the crucial announcement on the formation of Telangana State, the Union Home Ministry has rushed an additional 1,000 paramilitary personnel.

According to sources, these additional forces would be deployed in the Rayalaseema and Andhra regions where protests are likely to take place if the Centre decides in favour of Telangana formation. These forces would be in addition to 1,200 paramilitary personnel who are already deployed in the two regions. Besides, the Centre has also asked 200 personnel of Karnataka Armed Police and 100 personnel of Tamil Nadu Armed Police stationed in Hyderabad to assist the State police in maintaining the law and order.

It may be mentioned that Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Home Secretary Anil Goswami held a meeting last week with DGP V Dinesh Reddy and Chief Secretary Dr PK Mohanty on the law and order situation in the State and the requirement of forces in view of Telangana decision.

Nalgonda, July 6: Lok Sabha MP Gutta Sukhender Reddy on Saturday accused the Seemandhra leaders of creating obstacles in the formation of Telangana State.

Talking to reporters here, Gutta said that the Seemandhra leaders have been trying to confuse and threaten the Congress High Command which has almost decided in favour of formation of Telangana State. He said that the recent visits of Seemandhra leaders to the national capital were aimed at blocking the announcement of Telangana which might come anytime.

Gutta also slammed Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal for meeting AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh. He said by issuing veiled and open threats, he was trying to blackmail the party. He said that Lagadapati was a businessman and not a political leader. Therefore, his retirement from politics would not affect the Congress party in any way.

- INN

New Delhi, July 6: AICC General Secretary and in-charge of AP Affairs Digvijay Singh on Saturday submitted a detailed report on Telangana issue to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Digvijay Singh submitted the report during his half-an-hour long meeting with the Congress chief on Saturday morning. According to sources, the report contains the overview of opinions expressed by leaders of different regions with regard to Telangana issue. Further, it Digvijay has reportedly made his own observations on the Pro’s and Con’s of granting statehood for the region.

The AICC incharge has explained in detail the latest political situation in Andhra Pradesh. He also made a special mention on impact of exit of senior leader K Keshava Rao and two Lok Sabha MPs – G Vivek and Manda Jagannatham from the party to join the TRS. A note was also included about the Telangnana Sadhana Sabha held on June 30 at Nizam College Grounds.

According to sources, Digvijay Singh’s report also contained a list of leaders, from both Telangana and Seemandhra regions, who might quit the party and its likely impact if the Congress High Command decides in favour or against the formation of Telangana.

Based on Digvijay Singh’s report, the Congress Core Committee is likely to take a final decision on Telangana issue during its next meeting to be held next Friday.

- INN