Whether Andhra Pradesh would be bifurcated or not continues to remain in an animated suspense, political leaders, including ministers, are vertically divided over the issue and vying with each other to voice their own assessment and thus creating a volatile situation in the state.
Since the one month deadline set by Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to resolve the contentious separate state issue, the leaders from both Telangana and Seemandhra regions have stepped up pressure on the central leaders for and against the bifurcation of the state.
As the bitterness and animosity among the leaders of the two regions are growing with each passing day, the common man, who is unwittingly caught in the cross fire, seemed to be the worst sufferer amidst the raging uncertainty.
While it is the ruling Congress and the main opposition Telugu Desam are the worst affected in the battle of nerves amongst their leaders with no unanimity over the T issue, the TRS, BJP and the CPI, which have firmly concurred for a separate state, are having a last laugh watching the situation with much glee. The CPM remained firm on its sand for a united state, the YSRCP continues to adopt a double edged stance. Though in the beginning the MIM’s stance on the issue was very vital, now after the party severed its ties with the Congress both at the centre and the state and more particularly the controversy surrounding the party MLA Akbaruddin, its role in the issue seemed to have become inconsequential.
Ever since the all-party meeting held in New Delhi on December 28 last at the behest of he Union Home Minister, who had set a deadline of one month for resolving the crisis, consultations and confabulations among the leaders from both the regions have become the order of the day both at New Delhi and Hyderabad levels without mounting bitterness. As a matter of fact senor leaders including the CM. Deputy CM, APCC President and ministers rushing to Delhi frequently has derailed the administration in the state.
Integrationists like Minister T.G. Venkatesh, Kasu Krishna Reddy, Viswaroop and Erasu Pratap Reddy have been lobbying in New Delhi to ensure that the state remained united, These ministers besides some MPs from the Seemandhra region have also called on central like Vayalar Ravi and Gulam Nabi Azad and impressed upon them the need to avert the bifurcation of the state. They asserted that they had conveyed the firm and deep sentiments of the people of the region for maintaining the status quo of the state. The ministers from the Rayalaseema region especially emphasized the sufferings of the people with regard to the water resources.
The integrationists even contended that the talk of central government deciding bifurcation of the state was only a figment of imagination of vested interests. Ridiculing speculations about the formation of T state, the Congress MLA from Krishna district Malladi Vishnu asserted that there was no truth in such talk. As a matter fact we are going ahead with the meeting of integrationists on Thursday in Hyderabad to emphatically voice their opinion for maintaining the unity of the state, he said.
Minister for Health D.L. Ravindra Reddy also phoo-phooed the claim of bifurcation of the state. Though there has been no clear cut announcement whether a T state would be formed or not, personally he was for integration of the state. The central government would definitely take some decision to resolve the prevailing crisis, he added.
Another Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, who was an NLA from the erstwhile PRP, also wanted to join the team of four ministers from the Seemandhra region to make a representation to the central leaders to prevent division of the state prevented by the Union Minister of Tourism Chiranjeevi. Annoyed over the Minister who belonged to his erstwhile PRP, Chiranjeevi seemed to have chided Gana Srinivasa Rao. He had called on the Chief Minister and seemed to have stated that he would abide whatever the central leadership decides on the issue.
Meanwhile informed sources indicated that the Congress-led UPA Government is planning to announce a Rs.25, 000 crore special financial package for the development of Telangana region besides creating a Telangana Development authority to be headed by a senior Congress BC leader from the region.
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