After a slight lull, there’s a loud buzz again from pro and anti-Telangana parties as organisations and individuals plunge into a whirl of activity.
Fast-changing state politics and Union minister, Sharad Pawar, asking UPA to take an early decision on Telangana has triggered this revival of interest in the Telangana issue and even forced the TRS to postpone its three-day conclave till September to gear up for T-agitation. (Sources in TRS say that the party expects the Centre to take a decision by September.)
TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who publicly claimed he got hints from Delhi, set August 20 as the deadline, but kept agitation plans on hold once again with an eye on Delhi developments, a TRS leader said.
This has led to a surge of activity from those demanding a separate Andhra state, led by former home minister, Mr Vasantha Nageswara Rao and a separate Rayalaseema, led by Telugu Desam leader Mr Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy.
In fact, the Rayalaseema Parirakshana Samiti has convened a meeting on Sunday, of natives of Rayalaseema living in Hyderabad.
“I’m trying to mobilise people from Rayalaseema and get them to fight for their rights. We are not against Telangana. But if the state is bifurcated, Rayalaseema too should be a separate state and we don’t want to hitch on to another region,” Mr Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy told this newspaper.
Meanwhile, the CPI is gearing up for Telangana Poru Yatra in 10 T-districts from August 25, demanding a separate Telangana. The CPI campaign is being backed by Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC).
BJP too is planning a series of rallies for Telangana. With the T-demand back in circulation, T-Congress MPs, MLAs and ministers are planning to meet the party High Command and press for an early decision on T-state.