Kiran looks to YSRC, TDP to stall division

To invite Naidu, Vijayamma to join his delegation to Delhi, He also plans to call on BJP president Rajnath Singh, Decides against launching new party due to time crunch.

• He is also planning deeksha at Indira’s samadhi
• He has been quoting her to oppose division
• Date to be decided after Prez gives appointment
• Naidu, Jagan too sought appointments separately

As the Congress high command continues to assert that it would complete the process of carving out the separate T State before the Election Commission announces poll schedule, the Seemandhra Congress leaders in the State led by N Kiran Kumar Reddy are gearing up to mount pressure on the Centre not to rush through with the Bill.

According to sources, Kiran has decided not to launch a new political party as there is not much time left for the general elections. He is also said to be of the opinion that launching of a new political party would be of no use if the Centre succeeds in completing the process of bifurcation by the end of February as it has been claiming.

According to a senior leader who has been privy to the meetings which Kiran has been holding with Seemandhra leaders, it has been decided to take the battle to the Centre’s doorstep and try to seek help of other parties.

Kiran will write letters to Chandrababu Naidu and Vijayalakshmi to join the delegation to Rashtrapati Bhavan.

However, the possibility of Naidu joining the delegation is unlikely. In fact Naidu had himself sought an appointment from the President. Moreover, if he joins the delegation, he would be branded as anti-Telangana. Similarly, Y S Jaganmohan Reddy also wants to meet the President separately.

Meanwhile, Kiran has written a letter to the President on Saturday seeking appointment either for Monday or Tuesday. According to Minister S Sailjanath, Kiran Reddy in his letter urged Pranab not to send the T Bill to Parliament as the AP Legislature had passed a resolution rejecting it.

The Chief Minister who is contemplating to sit on deeksha in Delhi is understood to have preferred to stage sit-in at Shakti Sthal, the samadhi of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as an appropriate venue for his protest demonstration. It may be mentioned here that Kiran has been quoting the statement of Indira Gandhi during his speeches to buttress his argument to oppose bifurcation of the state, a senior Minister told The Hans India. Depending upon the time given by the President, the date of Deeksha will be decided. It could be either on Monday or Tuesday, the Minister said. Kiran and his team will also call on the BJP president Rajnath Singh.

Kiran held a meeting with Seemandhra ministers and leaders at his camp office on Saturday and was understood to have sought the views of the leaders on the proposal to invite opposition leaders to join the delegation to meet the first citizen of India. Sailajanath said the rejection of the T Bill by the State Legislature reflects the will of the majority people of the State. Hence, they would impress upon the President to direct the Centre not to table the Bill in Parliament.