Having exhausted almost all their options, Telangana Congress leaders find a ray of some hope in the decision taken by Chief Minister Mayawati to split Uttar Pradesh into four States.
Reactions ranged from outright elation and sense of jubilation to guarded comments on the development. Many were not sure as to how the high command would react to their comments. For some, Ms. Mayawati's action was part of ‘politically motivated agenda' and for others it was like a signal that the Congress party's Central leadership now had to take a firm decision on the Telangana issue.
“As a Telangana protagonist, I welcome the Uttar Pradesh development,” is how Rajya Sabha member K. Keshava Rao reacted. He said Telangana was not a new demand as it was hanging fire for the last few decades.
Congress leaders acknowledge that the party line on smaller States was constitution of States Reorganisation Commission (SRC). But, they were very clear that constitution of second SRC was not relevant for Telangana. Former Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy said: “The Srikrishna Committee had done its work on the lines of a SRC and there is no need for bringing Telangana demand under its purview”.
Congress exposed: TRS
The Telangana Rashtra Samiti feels that the Congress is in a state of confusion after Ms. Mayawati's announcement as it is focussed more on political aspects rather than formulating a national policy on smaller States.
TRS MLA T. Harish Rao said Congress party's double standards stood exposed after Ms. Mayawati's decision to pass a resolution in the UP Assembly. “The Congress leadership dilly-dallied over Telangana citing that there no resolution was passed by the Assembly. The party now owes a reply,” he said.
TJAC chairman M. Kodandaram ruled out the possibility of the Centre constituting a second SRC “Constitution of the second SRC will lead to unnecessary political controversies which will have a bearing across the country,” he said. CPI State secretary K. Narayana said Telangana issue needed a political solution.
