Andhra Congress split over Telangana panel

While the Centre is yet to take a final decision on the nature of the mechanism on Telangana,the regional divide in the Andhra Pradesh...

While the Centre is yet to take a final decision on the nature of the mechanism on Telangana,the regional divide in the Andhra Pradesh unit of the Congress has already surfaced on the composition of the committee,which is being explored as an option.

Congress legislators and MPs from the Telangana region were learnt to have conveyed it to party leadership that they would prefer a political mechanism as the issue involves peoples sentiments,which could be better understood by their representatives only. Their counterparts from Andhra and Rayalseema regions would prefer an expert committee to look into the developmental indices to judge the validity of the demand for a separate state.

Home Ministry sources,however,said there could be three-four more rounds of meetings with the eight recognised political parties from the state before the government decides on the nature of the mechanism.

Meanwhile,Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday continued deliberations with political leaders,including TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao,PRP chief Chiranjeevi and Congress MP K S Rao. The TRS chief,who had rejected the idea of any committee on Tuesday,was said to be coming around the governments view that a mechanism was needed for further consultations on the contentious issue. After an hour-long meeting with Home Minister P Chidambaram,KCR said,It was a satisfactory meeting. He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday.

Asked about Tuesdays meeting with the Home Minister,the TRS chief said,Yesterdays was a pleasant meeting and satisfactory.

Union Law Minister and AICC in-charge of Andhra Pradesh M Veerappa Moily said the mechanism was yet to be decided as the government was still holding consultations with different stakeholders.

Presently,the Home Minister is discussing with different political parties. A final decision on the mechanism will be taken at the highest level. Yesterdays meeting was successful as it served the purpose for which it was called, Moily told The Indian Express.

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Congress MPs opposing the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh argue in favour of an experts committee,which should be headed by a retired Supreme Court judge and include experts on water management,internal security,etc. Sentiments cant be the reason for bifurcation. Any panel that looks at development parameters will never support bifurcation, said K S Rao.

After his meeting with Chidambaram,Chiranjeevi said: Its the first step of discussions,and I dont think well be very happy. After a couple of meetings and discussions,we will definitely get good result.

Special status sought for Gulbarga

New Delhi: Amid the heat over statehood demand for the Telangana region,a delegation from Karnataka led by senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes on Wednesday met Home Minister P Chidambaram to press for the long-standing demand for special status for Gulbarga and surrounding areas in northern Karnataka.

The 20-member delegation belonging mainly to the Hyderabad-Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry demanded special package for five districts in the region which were once part of the erstwhile state of Hyderabad Nizam.

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We have been asking for a special status for the region similar to what has been given to Vidarbha as these districts are extremely backward,both socially and economically. , Fernandes told reporters. The five districts are Gulbarga,Bidar,Raichur,Koppal and the new district of Yadagir.

Fernandes said Article 371 of the Constitution had provisions for giving special status to backward regions of a state with the aim to accelerate development in these areas. ENS