By JR Prasad
The Congress high command is confident Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who has projected himself as a staunch integrationist and almost revolted against its decision to bifurcate the State, will fall in line and even move a resolution in favour of a Telangana State in the Assembly.
Telangana Congress leaders such as Deputy Speaker Mallu Batti Vikramarka, Rajya Sabha members Palvai Govardhan Reddy and V Hanumantha Rao, and PCC general secretary B Kamalakar Rao and former speaker KR Suresh Reddy met AICC state affairs incharge Digvijaya Singh in Delhi.
When they doubted the possibility of Seemandhra leaders backing the resolution, Singh reportedly told them all Seemandhra leaders, including the Chief Minister, would surely toe the party line. “Though they are differing with the T-decision for now as per the aspirations of the people of their region, I am sure our leaders from Seemandhra will abide by the party decision,” he was quoted as saying.
As reported in these columns already, the Congress high command had clearly told the Chief Minister during his recent visit to Delhi that he should preside over the process of bifurcation. Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy, after meeting Singh in Delhi along with Finance Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, also told reporters that lawmakers from Seemandhra would try to express their views in the Assembly if the party leadership did not issue a whip on the T-issue.
This indicates that Seemandhra Congress MLAs will definitely obey the party diktat if a whip is issued. However, Raghuveera added, “Digvijaya Singh told us the decision to bifurcate the state will not be put on hold. But, we have requested him not to issue a whip while holding voting on the T-motion in the Assembly. We will put in all efforts to keep the State united till the last minute.”
According to a senior minister, if some Seemandhra Congress MLAs are hell-bent on defeating the T-motion, the Congress high command might ask Kiran Reddy to opt for a “via media solution” in the House.
That means, instead of putting the resolution to vote, parties will be asked to express their views and when a heated argument takes place between United Andhra votaries and Telangana supporters, the House might be adjourned sine die giving a “win-win situation” for all.
[Courtesy: The New Indian Express]