Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy is likely to ask the Congress brass to take a decision regarding the bifurcation of the state without delay to end the stalemate once and for all.
Mr Reddy will visit New Delhi on January 5 for the all-party meeting convened by the Union home minister for the next day in connection with the Union government making the Justice Srikrishna Committee report public. The CM has been meeting Congress MLAs and MPs in the state for the last few days on the issue and sources say that he is of the view that the Union government, without taking much time pondering over the Srikrishna Committee report, should announce its stand on the bifurcation issue so that the state Congress leadership and the government can be prepared to face the consequences.
If the Central government delays the decision further, say for another one year or so, it would be difficult for the state leadership to control party leaders who will continue to be divided along regional lines. “If the party and the government have a clear stand on the bifurcation issue, unity could then be achieved and the state government can make all-out efforts to bring the administration back on track. The party will also be geared up to meet political challenges from both the TDP and Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy ahead of the local body polls,” a source said.
Stretching the bifurcation issue for too long without announcing the party’s stand would continue to create confusion among Congress cadres, as the leaders of each region claim that they have the backing of the party high command in their demands for bifurcation or for a united Andhra Pradesh, informed sources. Keeping Central paramilitary forces in the state for an indefinite period is also not a good sign, they said.
“It would be better for the party if they (the Centre) take one or two months for forming their opinion and announce their stand, if it goes beyond that the party will suffer,” said the source.
However, according to some leaders who were in touch with party leaders, particularly Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, the central party leadership is worried about the number game both at the Centre and the state.
“If it (decision) leads to the resignations of MPs and MLAs belonging to one region it would be difficult for the party,” Mr Mukherjee seems to have told leaders.