In an effort to counter their colleagues from Telangana region, Congress MPs from Seemandhra on Monday decided to oppose the proposal to divide the state and reached a consensus on meeting various leaders and bring pressure to let the state retain its present contour. Senior MP Kavuri Samb-asiva Rao organised the dinner meeting at his residence, attended by party MPs from coastal and Rayalaseema region, including Union ministers of state Panabaka Lakshmi and D. Purandareswari.
According to sources, the meeting took stock of the situation arising from party MPs from Telangana region meeting various leaders, including Congress Core Committee members, and pressing for early announcement on formation of a T-state. They are also learnt to have discussed ways to further strengthen the party in the region, particularly to counter the rising influence of YSR Congress.
The MPs are learnt to have argued in the meeting that the party’s central leadership should not back the decision to bifurcate the state only as an attempt to counter the growing influence of Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy. “We discussed the issue at length and decided to oppose the all-out efforts of Congress MPs from Telangana in lobbying for a separate state," one MP who took part in the meeting said.
Another MP asked in the meeting whether there is any guarantee that the Congress will win in Telangana after “declaring a separate state”. “How can bifurcation be an alternative to contain the Jagan influence?” the MP asked. Meanwhile, Union minister Vayalar Ravi, the Congress president's emissary, has begun meeting party MPs from all three regions of the state to get their inputs on the latest political situation in AP.