T inevitable

• HYD as UT is unlikely: Pallam Raju
• We can only represent to GoM

Kruparani, Panabaka and others too speak in similar vein

All of them seem prepared to wait for the agitation to wear off

However, they will strive for best package

Those still talking of united State likely to quit Congress

Notwithstanding the public posture that they will leave no stone unturned to keep the State united, the Seemandhra leaders both in the State and at the Centre appear convinced that there is nothing they can do to stop the process of division of the State.

Union Minister Pallam Raju said in Kakinada on Tuesday that they saw no chances of stopping the T State and that Hyderabad is unlikely to be maid a Union Territory He thought since division of State was inevitable, it may be better to get the best package for Seemandhra. Be that as it may, he is still very much committed to maintaining the present State intact.

Raju said that Sonia Gandhi is determined to bifurcate the State, and there is nothing that could be done at this stage. “There will be no change even in regard to the status of Hyderabad,” he said. Union Minister Killi Kruparani and Panabaka Lakshmi also expressed similar views. Kruparani contended that her resignation would not help in maintaining the State’s unity, as the process of Telangana formation had begun with the Cabinet accepting the note.

While those who feel that their future lies with Congress party have struck a conciliatory note, others who have already decided or are in the process of switching over to other parties are still talking of fight to keep the state United. MP Ananta Venkatarami Reddy is set to join the YSRCP. MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao is contemplating to join TDP. State ministers like Ganta Srinivasa Rao and others are also said to be searching for greener pastures.

Against the backdrop of this development, some of them including State Ministers like D Manikya Varaprasad and Kondru Murali, and Union Ministers Purandeswari and others are reportedly contemplating to opt out of the coordination committee set up to “preserve” the unity, headed by Minister S Sailjanath.

All of them have more or less come to conclusion that the high command which had failed to convince them on the issue “successfully confused them,” as one of them put it. The contradictory statements being made by AICC leaders like Digvijay Singh, Chacko and Veerappa Moily are all part of that ‘operation confuse,’ the Congress leaders claim.

The high command is also seen moving ahead with its decision to carve separate Telangana. Hence, it would be better if they focus their attention on how to get best of package and other benefits for the residuary State.

Even Sailjanath on Tuesday said that of some of the protagonists of United Andhra Pradesh may slip out and toe the line of the party high command. He said still all those who are committed to keeping the State united have decided to meet on Thursday to review the developments and chalk out an action plan. He said that they would continue to fight for keeping the state united till the “last minute.” The coordination committee will also take a decision on whether it should meet the GoM if invited or not. “We do not have faith on GoM,” he declared. Irrespective of what the coordination committee decides on Thursday, some ministers and leaders are getting ready with their reports to be submitted to the GoM.

Asked to comment on the observations made by Union Minister Purandheswari in a chat with a vernacular news channel on Tuesday that it would be better if the leaders stop claiming that the State would remain united, and instead see what best they can get from the Centre including an ITRI project sanctioned for the residuary state, Sailjanath said that it was her personal opinion and he still believes that the State would not be divided. Interestingly, another Union Minister Panabaka Lakshmi told media that she would meet the GoM and submit a report seeking assistance from the Centre in fields of education and employment.

Another Minister Pithani Satyanarayana said that the Centre is moving ahead, ignoring all the protests made by the people and leaders of Seemandhra region. It has also ignored the recommendations of Srikrishna Committee. Even the Antony committee has proved to be an eyewash and is only a ploy to divert the attention. The Centre has successfully confused the state leaders and is going ahead with its decision, he observed.

In Delhi, the Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal is waiting for the Speaker to return so that he and other MPs can get their resignations accepted by her. He claims that if Speaker accepts their resignations, the process of division can be further slowed down. But this confidence is not shared by others. MP Vundavalli Arun Kumar who said that he had decided not to be in active politics anymore and would not contest 2014 elections, quipped that, “I don’t know if party cheated us or we cheated the people.”