The Telangana-Seemandhra divide is costing the Congress more than it could bear. In an unprecedented move, over half-a-dozen Lok Sabha MPs from the Seemandhra region are all set to “withdraw” support to the UPA.
Upset over the Congress high command’s disregard for their sentiments against division of Andhra Pradesh to form Telangana, Seemandra’s eight MPs are meeting in Parliament Central Hall on Monday afternoon to take a final decision on the matter. If they decide to withdraw support, they would meet President Pranab Mukherjee to submit their letters “withdrawing” support.
MPs from Seemandhra region have almost come to the conclusion that they won’t be able to stop the Central government from enacting a law to create a separate Telangana and their only chance of surviving the 2014 election is a delay in the creation of Telangana.
Left with very limited options, Seemandhra MPs are also divided on the future course of action. Some of them are of the opinion that they should get their resignations accepted in the House itself and the other option is to knock the doors of Rashtrapathi Bhavan.
Unable to face the electorate in the constituencies, MPs from Seemandhra regions were camping in Delhi for a long period and preparing for hard decisions. Fourth-time MP from Guntur Rayapati Sambasiva Rao made it clear that he will quit politics if the state is divided.
Second-time MP from Vijayawada Lagadapati Rajagopal tried everything to keep the state united. He submitted resignation to Speaker, even approached Delhi High Court seeking direction to Speaker. With the rejection of his resignation and the decision for division of state, Rajagopal mooted the proposal to withdraw support to the UPA Government. Rajagopal claimed the support of eight MPs to withdraw the support. Rajagopal’s argument is that if around 15 MPs withdraw support, the UPA Government will be reduced to a “terrible” minority and may be forced not to go ahead with the division.
Centre Mulls over Special Package
The Centre is toying with the idea of providing special package to Rayalaseema region on the lines of Bundelkhand.
Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said an expert panel would be constituted to determine the new capital of residual Andhra Pradesh. He said the committee would recommend the new capital within 45 days of the Telangana Bill being enacted by the Parliament. He said the government was committed to financing the building of the new capital -- Raj Bhavan, Secretariat, High Court and all other such facilities.