Congress decision on Telangana likely on July 12

With the Congress top brass in New Delhi likely to take a final call on Friday on the vexed Telangana issue, the development has sparked a flurry of activities in the Andhra Pradesh capital.

All India Congress Committee general secretary and in-charge of Andhra affairs, Digvijay Singh indicated in New Delhi on Tuesday that the Congress core Ccmmittee would take a decision on the statehood issue at its meeting on July 12.

Singh is believed to have called Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy over phone this evening and asked him to "come prepared" to New Delhi on Friday.

Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha and state unit Congress president Botsa Satyanarayana too have been called to New Delhi for the crucial meeting and present their "road maps" for resolving the statehood issue, sources said.

All three leaders have held talks with their party colleagues from the respective regions to draw the road map. The significance of the meeting can be gauged from the state Cabinet meeting being put off as the chief minister, deputy chief minister and the state unit Congress president leaving for Delhi for the meeting, according to sources at the chief minister's office.

Congress in the recent past floated options like creation of "Rayala Telangana" by dividing four districts of Rayalaseema region into equal halves between Coastal Andhra and Telangana and/or a special package or Telangana in lieu of a separate state.

"Our high command has already taken a decision. Only the announcement is pending," a senior minister remarked after meeting the chief minister.

With Congress leaders from Telangana region claiming that the high command is about to announce its decision in favour of Telangana, ministers from Andhra-Rayalaseema are under pressure from people of the region to ensure that the state is kept united.

Image: Police grapple with a Telangana activist in Hyderabad

Photograph: SnapsIndia