KCR meets Sonia amid merger talk

Sonia to meet him again; Digvijay made pointsman

• TRS chief submits a report on Telangana issues
• Seeks sanctioned strength of IAS, IPS and IFS
• Urges deputation of T officials in other States to the region
• National project status for Pranahita-Chevella sought
• Requests adequate Central help to tide over power crunch

New Delhi: Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President K Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday called on Congress President Sonia Gandhi, triggering speculation of the possible coming together of the Congress and the TRS for the upcoming simultaneous Assembly and Parliament elections in Telangana.

After the nearly 30-minute meeting at her 10, Janpath residence in the capital, Rao said he submitted a report to Sonia Gandhi on issues concerning Telangana. “She has assured me that she is going to address all our concerns and discuss them with the PM,” he said.

The note is understood to have pointed out that only 27 IAS, 10 IPS and 15 IFS officers belonging to Telangana in the present Andhra Pradesh cadre. This is against the requirement of 50 IAS, 35 IPS and 35 IFS officers in cadre strength of 150 for IAS, 100 IPS and 100 IFS. A large number of Telangana officers are working in other States, who should be permitted to work for at least five years in Telangana on deputation, he urged Sonia Gandhi.

Rao is also understood to have taken up with Sonia Gandhi the demand for according national project status for Pranahita-Chevella irrigation project. He also demanded inclusion of Telangana in the Special Category Status. The TRS leader also sought allocation of 500 mw from NTPC for at least a period of three years from the Central pool.

He also sought sanctioning of AIIMS and IIM for Telangana. He also sought adequate gas allocation for the Shankarapally and Nendunur Power Projects.

Sonia Gandhi inquired whether he would be in the capital and he told her that he would stay back for another two or three days more, as he is yet to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pranab Mukherjee. For rest of the things, she said, AICC General Secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh Digvijay Singh will be in touch with him. “She said she would call me back for another meeting. I am here in Delhi for few more days as I am planning to meet the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as well,” he said.

As a lot of political issues need to be discussed and sorted out, Digvijay Singh has been made the pointsman by Sonia Gandhi to meet and to discuss all issues with Rao. That is when clarity will emerge on whether TRS will go in for merger or alliance with the Congress. This also gives Rao enough time, as he is also engaged in the exercise of holding internal consultations within the TRS on the future relations with the Congress. Rao said that as Congress President Sonia Gandhi is primarily responsible, because of her determination, for the creation of Telangana, he, along with all his family members, met her to express his gratitude and thanks to her. The Congress, which is facing its toughest electoral battle, feels it is important for the TRS to be with the Congress. There are 17 parliamentary seats in Telangana and every seat will be crucial for the Congress.

Senior leaders like Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh and Digvijay Singh have been reminding Rao of his public commitment to merge the TRS with the Congress after the creation of Telangana.