Unable to come to a conclusion with regard to the recommendations made by the Srikrishna Committee on the controversial Telangana issue, the Congress has sought to maintain status quo when it comes to naming a new PCC chief for Andhra Pradesh. This was made clear by the Congress’ chairman of the election committee Oscar Fernandes, when he issued a press release stating that the incumbent D. Srinivas will continue in his assignment until further orders.
As the party is being sandwiched between the supporters of Telangana from within and the rising stocks of former MP Jagan Mohan Reddy from outside, the party has decided to play it safe by not going in for an overhaul of the party apparatus in Andhra.
It is pertinent to note that Mr D. Srinivas hails from Telangana and his term had come to an end some time ago. In order to assuage the feelings of those legislators who come from Telangana, the party also is reportedly contemplating having a deputy chief minister from Telangana. The thought among the party leaders, according to sources, is that since the chief minister is from outside Telangana, having the PCC chief and the deputy chief minister from Telangana would have a bearing on the agitation for a separate state.
Telangana MPs, who met party leaders a couple of days ago, were adamant in their demand for a separate state. That was the first meeting after the submission of the Srikrishna Committee report.
In response, the top brass asked the MPs to cooperate and not do anything rash that would inconvenience the party.
The MPs were promised that their views would be conveyed to party supremo Sonia Gandhi. The Congress leaders, according to sources, are treading carefully on the Telangana issue knowing fully the repercussions the decision would have on the party.
They are heavily dependant on the newly installed chief minister, Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy, to douse the flames of the Telangana agitation.