Though the Centre might consider imposing President’s Rule, it will not rush into a definitive conclusion regarding bifurcation of the state.
The Congress Central leadership has apparently made it clear that its priority is damage-control in the UPA government due to the resignation of the Telangana MPs rather than finding an immediate solution to the survival of the state government, though the latter is in more danger.
“Our focus is on the UPA government and as far as the state is concerned, we can impose President’s Rule as an alternative option,” a senior Congress leader indicated to state leaders. Sources said that the Centre was trying to buy time after the resignations of the Congress MPs from the Telangana region. Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has apparently been told to wait for two weeks before calling each member individually to explain their reasons for quitting.
“Given the thought process of the Central leadership, the last thing it will want is a repeat of the 2009 fiasco,” sources told this newspaper.
The state leaders were made to understand that stiff resistance from the UPA partners like Trinamul Congress and Nationalist Congress Party will also force the Centre to tread a cautious path.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has already made it clear that she is opposed to further bifurcation of states.
Congress leaders too were of the view that any move on Telangana will derail Ms Banerjee’s efforts to quell the Gorkhaland agitations and upset her rule at the very beginning of her five-year term. “The Centre cannot afford to antagonise its partners and put itself in jeopardy,” said an MP.