PCC president Botcha Satyanarayana has urged the party’s central leadership to announce its decision on the statehood issue at the earliest so that the party men are better prepared to face any eventuality.
Mr. Satyanarayana, who is camping in New Delhi following summons from the party leadership, late on Saturday night, met the AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad and Union Home Minister S. K. Shinde.
Sources said during his interaction with the central leadership, the PCC president categorically said that he would abide by whatever decision the Centre takes on the statehood issue.
This is in contrast to his earlier stand that there was nothing wrong in Telugu speaking people having two separate States. It is understood that Mr. Satyanarayana explained in detail the prevailing political situation in all the three regions.
He is believed to have pointed out that Congress leaders from Telangana as well as Seemandhra were holding out threats to resign the party posts and their seats if Centre took decision for or against the separate State demand.
He said that it was in the interest of the party that a decision on Telangana was announced so that cadre could be prepared to face the consequences.
The PCC is said to have clarified in detail the circumstances under which he had made the statement that those aligning with the YSR Congress were as good as expelled from the party.
Sources said he had sent a report to party president Sonia Gandhi, vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Mr. Azad on the same day.
It was pointed out that the remarks were intended to put on notice the rebel Congress MLAs, who were hand in glove with the YSR Congress leadership and wanted to help them win the cooperative polls.
He is believed to have point
ed out that such a strong message was sent to warn the rebels.
The PCC president also submitted a report on the party’s impressive show in the cooperative polls.
Mr. Satyanarayana is waiting to meet Ms. Sonia Gandhi on Monday and other central leaders to continue discussions on the statehood issue.
