Telangana note ready; CM Reddy to go

As the Congress prepares to replace Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, the Union Cabinet will study the home ministry's note on creating Telangana, reports Vicky Nanjappa.

Anand Ramnarayan Reddy, K Laxminarayana and Raghuveera Reddy are in the running to replace Kiran Kumar Reddy as Andhra Pradesh's chief minister.

Despite being asked several times by the Congress high command to pipe down his views on the Telangana issue, Chief Minister Reddy has refused to do so.

The Congress high command feels the chief minister could cause the party serious embarrassment when the Union Cabinet note on Telangana arrives in the state assembly.

Although the assembly's decision is not mandatory before bifurcating a state, the Congress would like to display a united front on this vexed issue.

Anand Reddy has already taken on the chief minister, saying it is not right on Kiran Reddy's part to speak against the high command in public. 'We need to respect our high command. If there are grievances, it should be taken to Delhi and not voiced in public,' Anand Reddy has said.

Other Congress leaders feel the chief minister should step down if he wants to continue his battle for a united Andhra Pradesh.

Current indications are that Kiran Reddy will be replaced ahead of the special session of the Andhra Pradesh assembly.

Meanwhile, the Union home ministry has prepared a 20-page draft of the Cabinet note on Telangana.

This correspondent has learnt that the home ministry note will stick to what was decided by the Congress Working Committee.

Andhra Pradesh will be bifurcated into Andhra and Telangana. Hyderabad will remain the common capital for the next ten years.

The draft will be circulated at Thursday's Cabinet meeting by Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. The opinions of the ministries for health, law and water resources will be sought before the draft attains finality.

While the law department will study the legalities of the Cabinet note, the other departments will take a closer look at health and water sharing when the state is bifurcated.

Only after these ministries submit their opinions will the Cabinet pass the note and then place it before the Andhra Pradesh assembly.

The Congress high command will focus on clearing the Cabinet note before acting on changing the leadership in Andhra Pradesh.

Image: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, who once played cricket with Mohammad Azharuddin and Harsha Bhogle, is all set to lose his wicket.