The Congress high command seems to be in a tearing hurry to push through its Telangana decision, whatever that is. But it came across a hurdle in the form of Mulayam Singh Yadav, chief of the Samajwadi Party, on Sunday night, two days ahead of the UPA coordination committee meeting.
Speaking to reporters in Bangalore, the wily Uttar Pradesh politico said his party will not support the Congress move to carve out a T-state. Objecting to the very proposal, he asserted, “Our party is against the concept of smaller states as they weaken the country.”
According to him, the situation in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand, which were formed during the BJP-led NDA regime, has, if anything, deteriorated. “Is there any guarantee that Telangana will not become like these three states? Into how many pieces does the UPA government want to break the country?” he questioned. He made it clear his party will oppose T-bill in Parliament if it was tabled. SP has 22 MPs in the Lok Sabha and is extending outside support to the government.
But then, Mulayam is notorious for his U-turns. His support to the UPA-I government for the passage of the Indo-US nuclear deal and his expected support to the Centre for its Food Security scheme are just a few pointers. The Congress might not be too worried with his anti-T rhetoric. For now, its plan seems to be to fast-track the T-issue in time for the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning August 5.
It’s set to convene the UPA coordination committee meeting on July 31 and sources said, it might disclose its line of thinking at this meeting - whether it has a Rayala-Telangana or a Telangana state in mind - and elicit the views of alliance partners.
It may convene its working committee the same day since the Union Cabinet usually meets every Thursday. If it does, the T-proposal will be placed before the Cabinet Thursday itself for its approval.