Telangana on hold, AP in political mess

Hyderabad: The political deadlock in Andhra Pradesh over the proposed division of the state continued on Monday with ministers and legislators from Telangana region holding a meeting after the state assembly was adjourned sine die amid uproar.

As the protests in Andhra and Rayalaseema continued for the fourth day against the Central government's decision to initiate the process for formation of a Telangana state, Chief Minister K Rosaiah and the central leadership of the Congress stepped up their efforts to resolve the impasse.

In what is seen as some respite for Rosaiah's government, ministers from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions on Monday decided not to go ahead with their decision to resign.

Minister for municipal administration Anam Ramnarayan Reddy told reporters that the Chief Minister had conveyed to all the 20 ministers from the two regions that he would not accept their resignations.

The ministers who met on Sunday evening had agreed to review their decision on the request of the Chief Minister.

However, the ministers and party legislators from Telangana region began a separate meeting to chalk out their future course of action after speaker Kirankumar Reddy adjourned the house sine die amid uproar.

Ministers from Telangana, after a meeting on Sunday night, had announced that they would not resign as the decision had come in their favour. They advised their counterparts from the other regions to abide by the decision of the central leadership.

The Speaker adjourned the house amid uproar by legislators from Andhra and Rayalseema region, opposing bifurcation of the state. Congress party sources said this was done to avert a crisis as these legislators were mounting pressure on the speaker to accept their resignations.

As many as 138 legislators from the two regions had submitted their resignations during the last three days to protest the decision to initiate the process of formation of Telangana and move a resolution in the assembly. The legislators include 80 from the Congress party.

Indicating that all the parties stand divided along regional lines, the legislators from Telangana belonging to the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) are also holding a meeting to chalk out their strategy. Two legislators have already quit the party protesting the leadership's flip-flop over the issue.

Chief Minister Rosaiah was also holding a series of meetings with leaders from Andhra and Rayalaseema to persuade them not to precipitate the matters and wait for the final decision of the central leadership.

In New Delhi, the Congress core committee is also expected to meet and discuss the issue.

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