At at time when the Congress leaders from Telangana and Seemandhra regions are anxious over the Congress high command’s final decision on state’s bifurcation, AICC general secretary in-charge of state affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad called on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi at her 10 Janpath residence in Delhi on Monday.
Though it is not clear whether Telangana issue figured in the meeting, state Congress leaders believe that Azad might have apprised the AICC chief of the present political situation in the state and briefed her about the widening rift between Telangana and Seemandhra leaders in the wake of an inordinate delay in taking a final decision on the separate state issue.
However, some other leaders feel that as Azad is slowly transferring his responsibilities concerning Andhra Pradesh Congress affairs to AICC emissary Vayalar Ravi, he might not have discussed the state’s developments with the AICC chief.
‘‘These days, Azad is not playing a key role in discussions with the stakeholders on the Telangana issue. Instead of Azad, it is Vayalar Ravi who is holding talks with TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao now. Azad’s meeting with Sonia Gandhi on Monday might not therefore have any significance as far as state’s bifurcation issue is concerned,” said a former minister from Seemandhra. Meanwhile, some senior leaders in the state Congress say that as Sonia Gandhi has started the process of overhauling the AICC, she might have held discussions with Azad in this regard only.
They also believe that as the 2014 polls are just 18 months away, the AICC chief wants to utilise Azad’s services for the party and relieve him of the ministerial responsibilities. Sonia might have discussed this aspect with the AICC general secretary rather than state’s bifurcation, a senior leader explained.