Diggy, Jaipal discuss T

• Reddy said to have told Singh indecision will damage Congress
• Modalities of introducing Bill in Parliament also discussed
• Rayala Telangana also reportedly figured at the talks

Hyderabad/New Delhi: With the Congress Working Committee likely to meet soon, AICC General Secretary in-charge of State affairs Digvijay Singh on Monday conferred with the Union Minister for Science and Technology S Jaipal Reddy at his residence for about 45 minutes.

According to sources, both had one-on-one meeting. According to sources, the modalities of introducing a Bill on Telangana state in the monsoon session of Parliament were discussed. Digvijay Singh is learnt to have informed Jaipal Reddy that the CWC would meet soon and a presidential notification would be issued and then the state Assembly would be asked to pass a resolution. If necessary, the Assembly may even call for a special session. Jaipal feels that this is the last chance for the Congress party to take corrective measures in regard to Telangana issue.

Sources said the claims of the Chief Minister that the Congress party would win 24 Lok Sabha seats if it continues to be a united state, was also discussed. Jaipal is said to have expressed the view that if the State was not bifurcated it would not be possible even to win 24 Assembly seats. The political situation in the State is not conducive for the party and it would be washed out in both the regions, the Union Minister is said to have remarked.

It is also learnt that the possibility of CWC favouring Rayala Telangana by adding Kurnool and Anantapur to the Telangana region also figured at the meeting. The possibility of this option appears to be on high priority with the party high command. Even the TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao is reportedly not opposed to such a proposal and most of the Rayalaseema leaders will not say no either. The only opposition within the party is from Ananta Venkatarama Reddy, MP, and Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy, Union Minister of State for Railways, Jaipal is understood to have told Digvijay Singh.

Jaipal felt that if Kurnool and Anantapur were merged with Telangana state, it would also be possible to curtail the influence of YSRCP president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy in Rayalaseema region. Though he is a force to reckon with in Coastal Andhra for the time being, that situation may also change soon, Jaipal is understood to have told Digvijay Singh.

Though it is not clear as to what exactly transpired at the meeting, it assumed significance in the wake of the recent Congress Core Group meeting on Telangana. Jaipal Reddy is known to be an important leader who has been leading the T protagonists in the Congress party including Panchayat Raj minister K Jana Reddy.