Amidst intensified campaign demanding an early decision on the Telangana issue, AP CM Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday held consultations with the Congress leadership, including AICC president Sonia Gandhi. Speculation was rife on the day that the Congress is likely to put out its roadmap on Telangana very soon.
With the Centre further delaying a decision on Telangana and the protests raging in the state, Mr Reddy briefed the AICC president about the situation on ground during his meeting with Mrs Gandhi in the presence of her political secretary Ahmed Patel that lasted nearly half-an-hour.
The chief minister also met President Pranab Mukherjee, Union health minister and Congress general secretary in-charge of AP Ghulam Nabi Azad and senior party leaders Digvijay Singh and Motilal Vohra. Mr Reddy had elaborate discussions with Mr Azad lasting nearly an hour.
Mr Reddy’s meeting came after Mr Azad, in a statement earlier, said that the party will invite the AP CM, the PCC president and leaders from three regions of the states for further consultations. The other consultations will take place in the coming days.
Meanwhile, a top Congress source said that the party was likely to come up with its roadmap on Telangana very soon. Even though party spokesperson P.C. Chacko had said that the Congress was not against Telangana, sources said that chances are likely for the Centre to ask the state Assembly to first pass a resolution on the issue.
Sources said that the chief minister also discussed the recent developments in the state politics especially regarding the reports that the government could become a minority after the PCC president announced suspension of nine rebel MLAs loyal to Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress. The leaders reportedly asked the CM to urge party workers to give a good fight in the ongoing society elections and the upcoming local body elections.