President Pranab Mukherjee created a flutter in the Congress party by agreeing to meet 40 Congress MLAs from Andhra Pradesh. The MLAs met Pranab Mukherjee to press for a united Andhra Pradesh.

On Wednesday Andhra Governor E S L Narasimhan had briefed party president Sonia Gandhi on the situation in the state.

After that briefing, Sonia Gandhi had sought an appointment with Mukherjee. On Thursday  Sonia drove to Rashtrapathi Bhavan to meet Mukherjee and discuss the burning issue of Telangana.

They also discussed other political issues such as the Tamil Nadu assembly passing a resolution on asking the government of India not to attend the Colombo Commonwealth summit, the Communal Violence Bill and the ensuing winter session of Parliament.

Sonia Gandhi visiting Rashtrapathi Bhavan is a significant development. There is speculation that the President alone can help find an amicable solution to the Telangana issue.