Congress planning to make announcement on Telangana by end of month

The Congress government is reportedly planning to make an announcement on Telangana by the end of this month. The party hopes the announcement will douse fires raging on the ground, politically and emotionally. Unfortunately, the party seems to be inclined to jump from the frying pan into the fire, as the several flip-flops and announcements it has made in the past have shown.

Sources say a financial package, probably worth some Rs. 25000 crore, may be in the offing for the Telangana districts, as also for one backward northcoastal and one backward Rayalaseema district. This will fund the creation of a regional development council and also lure youth with job opportunities in the region.

Before the proposed Chalo Assembly call given by pro-Telangana groups, Ghulam Nabi Azad had hinted that there would be an announcement by the month-end. In the meanwhile, Digvijaya Singh has been given charge of overseeing matters in the state for the party. Governor ESL Narasimhan had also briefed the leadership on the ground situation as he sees it and also had meetings with the Union home minister.

 Unfortunately for the Congress, its own Telangana leadership has rejected any such package, saying nothing short of an independent state is acceptable to the people of Telangana and that they will not be able to face the electorate if the party does not make an announcement for a separate state.

Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha has gone to Delhi to convey this. The Chief Minister is also expected to go to Delhi after the assembly session ends on Friday.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has also said anything short of statehood will be unacceptable. The Congress leadership hopes the Telangana Congress leaders will come around after they 'understand' what it entails, which could mean attractive political posts to ensure there is no exodus from the party. The chairman of a regional development council, with cabinet rank status, and several nominated posts are under consideration.

The Congress hopes that the focus on creating jobs will reduce the anger against the party in the region, especially among the youth. A long-pending demand for according national status to Pranahita-chevella irrigation project in Telangana is also being spoken about.

The Congress calculation is that granting statehood will only be politically more advantageous to the TRS. It could also open a Pandora's Box for the Congress in other vulnerable regions of the country.

A proposal to create Rayala-telangana is also still under consideration. That would mean merging two districts of Rayalaseema with Telangana and bifurcating Andhra Pradesh. But that proposal has not had many takers.







Source:NDTV