Even as thousands of supporters of united Andhra Pradesh gathered at Ramlila Grounds in New Delhi to mount pressure on the Central Government, Telangana Bill will come up for debate in the lok Sabha on Tuesday. In view of the critical nature of the Bill, the Congress has issued whip to its MPs to be present in the House on all the days of the session.
In Hyderabad, the future plans of the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy remain under a cloud of suspense as he was keeping the cards close to his chest. But after a meeting with him, many of his supporters said that the Chief Minister’s resignation was certain and he was likely to float a new party.
But gaps in the ranks of Seemandhra Congress leaders are also widening. Many Ministers from the region including, State Congress president Botsa Satyanarayana, Anam Ramanarayan Reddy, N Raghuveera Reddy, D Manikya Vara Prasad Rao and Balaraju stayed away from his brainstorming meeting.
Instead, Botsa Satyanarayana, who is averse to going against the party high command held separate meetings with some Ministers and leaders opposed to the Chief Minister. In the evening a formal meeting with them at his residence was held and discussed among other things how to protect the Congress party in Seemandhra region. That the Chief Minister and his plans were not getting unstinted support from all Seemandhra leaders were obvious from the fact that only 35 legislators turned up at the Chief Minister’s camp office.
N Raghuveera Reddy and Balaraju were among the Ministers and other leaders who attended the meeting called by Botsa Satyanarayana. Two Ministers S Shailajanath and Kasu Krishna Reddy, who were present in the Chief Minister’s meeting also met Botsa.
In another indication of brewing resentment against the Chief Minister, Botsa also wrote a letter to him criticising his choices for the posts of whip in the legislative council. Botsa wanted to know why he ignored the leaders from weaker sections and did not take the approval of the high command.
Another Minister from Rayalaseema, C Ramachandraiah also lashed out at Kiran Kumar Reddy saying his real face was exposed by his ambition to launch his own party. “It shows that the Chief Minister was using the issue of united Andhra Pradesh for his political mileage”. He alleged that the Chief Minister was trying to woo the MlAs and MlCs to his side.
In yet another attempt to bring the Seemandhra Central Ministers around, they were invited to meet Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. It was being seen as a last ditch attempt to persuade them to support the Bill and not create problems in Parliament. The process of passing the Telangana Bill was likely to be completed by February 20. Two Rajya Sabha members from Telangana, V Hanumantha Rao and R Anand Bhaskar quoted the Rajya Sabha chairman as saying that the debate on the Bill in the Upper House will be completed by evening of February 20.
Meanwhile, the sit in protest at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, organised by AP Non Gazetted Officers Association has attracted thousands of people from Seemandhra region. Addressing the gathering APNGO president Ashok Babu said that the supporters of united states should give a taste of their power to Delhi rulers. “We will know in three days whether the State will remain united or not”, he said. Ashok Babu warned the BJP against remaining silent spectator to the division of Andhra Pradesh. “If Center continues to divide the State, the country itself will be disintegrated”, he said. He urged the Union Ministers from Seemandhra region to oppose the Bill in the Parliament.
Expelled Congress MP l Rajagopal, who created a sensation in the Parliament by using Pepper spray as a protest against Telangana Bill, was among the political leaders who addressed the rally. Rajagopal alleged that the Seemandhra MPs were suspended from lok Sabha to get the Telangana Bill passed. He said that the organisers of the protest had asked for 20 special trains to Delhi but only 7 were provided.