Will consider Telangana bypolls result,says panel

The Justice B N Srikrishna Committee that is looking into the Telangana statehood demand Friday said it has taken note of the result of the recent by-elections in Telangana,setting off speculation that it may recommend Telangana state. The TRS,which swept the bypolls,winning 11 of the 12 seats and helping the BJP win the other,claimed the panel will.

The comments were made by the committees Member Secretary V K Duggal on the sidelines of a crucial meeting with ministers,MPs and MLAs from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema at Hyderabads Jubilee Hall. We have taken note of the results of bypolls.We are also aware of the alleged suicides by some students and youths in support of a separate state, Duggal told reporters. The committee is not oblivious to what is happening on the ground. The by-polls data is with us and we have also analysed editorial comments and opinions in the media8230; But what inference we draw is our privilege.

Justice Srikrishna maintained that results of the by-polls or the alleged suicides wont put any kind of pressure on the committee.

Duggal also said the panel has completed 99 percent of its work and will submit its report before the December 31,2010 deadline.

At the meeting at Jubilee Hall,most of the ministers from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema opposed bifurcation,arguing it was not the solution for the under-development of Telangana. Rayalaseema is more backward than Telangana. Bifurcation of a state is not the solution, said MLC Y S Vivekananda Reddy.

The panel will now tour Telangana and Rayalaseema to seek opinion of people on the issue.