The Congress, which appeared to be seized of the Telangana imbroglio a couple of weeks before, is in no hurry to take a call on the statehood issue immediately. Myriad reasons are attributed for the go-slow attitude of the grand old party.
According to sources, the party leadership, as of now, is focused on the Assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. That would mean the issue has been relegated to the backburner till the end of the year as counting would take place for the two states only on December 20. In addition, the government and the party are busy giving final touches to the impending Cabinet reshuffle at the Centre, sources added.
Sources also mentioned that the September rally, which was touted by the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) as a “million march” couldn’t attract even half that number. Moreover, the party high command is aware of the rivalry between TRS chief K. Chandrasekar Rao and TJAC leader K. Reddy over who should take the credit for the formation of Telangana state should it become a reality. It is in this context that KCR refused to offer his whole-hearted support to the “million march” organised by TJAC, sources added. Besides, the powerful pro-united Andhra Pradesh has played its role to ensure that the high command doesn’t rush to take a decision on the vexed matter, immediately, sources said.
Sources also referred to the statements of former home minister P. Chidambaram and current home minister Sushilkumar Shinde who have repeatedly said the Centre cannot move unless there is a consensus on the matter.
When asked about the reported offer of KCR to merge his party with the Congress in return for the formation of a separate state, sources said that could not be the criterion for declaring a region a separate state.
KCR, who had been camping in the national capital for nearly a month, has also returned to Hyderabad and the Congress, for the record, has said that talks are inconclusive.