HYDERABAD: Contentious issues between the two sibling states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are likely to be raised when their chief ministers, Chandrababu Naidu and Chandrasekhar Rao, bump into each other at the two-day Inter-State Council meeting in New Delhi on Saturday.
In their speeches to the audience of chief ministers, union ministers and Niti Aayog planners, they are like to implore the Prime Minister to intervene on settling post-bifurcation issues: the carving of the High Court, sharing of river waters and division of institutions listed in Schedule IX and X of the AP Reorganisation Act.
After the speechifying at the meeting, both chief ministers are likely to get busy with their other agenda: lobby union ministers, particularly the Prime Minister, for more funds and more assistance. As far as Chandrasekhar Rao is concerned, he wants immediate bifurcation of the High Court and a solution to the river water issue in which Telangana's rightful share is protected.
The Telangana chief minister is trying to meet the Prime Minister Modi to invite him to launch Mission Bhagiratha, the Water Grid Scheme, in the state next month. Interestingly, it will be Chandrasekhhar Rao's first meeting with the Prime Minister since his recent fireworks at the Centre for the delay in the bifurcating the High Court.
And this development is taking place against the backdrop of the Telangana BJP's sudden attack on the TRS government. So ears are pricked for any signals from the PM whether his party is preparing to take on the TRS in Telangana.
As for Chandrababu Naidu, he in appeasement mode vis a vis the BJP, having given a Rajya Sabha seat to Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu. He too has sought a few minutes of the prime ministerial ear, mainly to secure the state's interests on several matters.
"Naidu has decided to persuade Centre to fulfil all pending promises. He has listed out many pending issues like the delay in the bifurcation of institutions listed in Schedule IX and X of the AP Reorganisation Act and funds for the new capital, Amaravati. He will be meeting the Union home, finance and water resources ministers to take up these issues," sources said.
On Friday, interacting with TDP MPs in Vijayawada, Chandrababu Naidu told them that he was ready to resolve all disputes with the Telangana government amicably. He also dropped hints that his government would not stand in the way of the High Court bifurcation.
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Interestingly, there is rare agreement between the two CMs on one issue. That is enhancing the numerical strength of their respective State Assemblies. Both CMs are likelty to exert pressure on the Centre to fulfil this promise as per the Reorganisation Act.