By convening an all-party meet on the Telangana issue on Dec 28, the Centre has kicked off yet another game of pehle aap. The meeting is a maneouvre to put the onus on the TDP and the YSRC to spell out their stance on the bifurcation issue but the catch is that the Congress is in the same boat too, being unable to take any side in the matter. Consequently, the all-party meeting is likely to see a round of after-you speeches. JR Prasad looks at the likely positions each party will take in the all-party talkathon.
Congress: Madam speaks for us
Before the all-party meeting, there’s still the question of how many delegates each party can send to the meeting: one or two? If one, the Congress’ lone delegate will most likely leave the decision to the Centre. PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana has made this clear several times. Some leaders in the party say the Congress will not spell out its stance but try to expose the doublespeak of the TDP and the YSRC during the meeting.
TDP: We stick to two-eyed stance
Though TDP chief chandrababu Naidu has said during his padayatra in Telangana that his party will clarify its stance on the Telangana issue if an all-party meet is called, it is unlikely he would render unqualified support to separate statehood. According to sources in the TDP, will take an after-you stance in the meeting, saying that the onus of solving the problem is on the ruling party and not the opposition. “It is the Congress which has to announce its stance on the issue. The party which is in power both at the Centre and in the state has been avoiding declaring its stance. During the all-party meet we will try to pressurise the ruling party into spell out its stance,” TDP politburo member Kadiyam Srihari told Express. He demanded the Centre to announce the date of the meeting and invite only one representative from each party. “The viewpoint expressed by that member should be considered as his party’s official stance,” he said. Even though Telangana leaders in the TDP are saying that their boss will support Telangana statehood, the party’s Seemandhra leaders are time and again making it clear that they will not allow him to do so. So, no respite for Naidu from his two-eyed stance.
YSRC: Wants Congress stance first
With the party coveting popular support in Seemandhra and YSRC leader Sharmila’s padayatra drawing good crowds in Telangana too, the YSRC too is caught on the horns of a dilemma.
According to sources, the party will demand the Congress to take a decision first. “Ours is neither the ruling party nor the prinicipal opposition. Hence, the onus of solving the Telangana issue squarely lies with the Congress and TDP,” said a senior leader of the YSRC. So the YSRC delegate to the meeting is likely to speak in generalities like ‘the people’s best interests’ and ‘justice to all.’
TRS: Feels meet will expose rivals
Responding to the move to call an all-party meeting, TRS legislator K T Rama Rao said, “The meeting will expose the doublespeak of various parties on the Telangana issue. If the Congress is really committed to the formation of a Telangana state, an all-party meeting is not necessary now.”
CPM & MIM: No to bifurcation
CPM and MIM have already announced that they are against bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. However, the MIM would settle for a Rayala Telangana region if bifurcation is inevitable.
BJP: Who needs an all-party meeting?
The BJP suspects the intentions of the Congress in calling an all-party meeting. “The Congress has started a new drama by calling an all-party meet. It was only a trick to get past the vote on the FDI issue. If they have a real intention to form a Telangana state, the Centre would have fixed a date during the Parliament session and pave the way to pass a bill,” said BJP spokesperson Prakash Javdekar. In all likelihood, the saffron party may skip the meet as its stance on the T issue is clearly for bifurcation.
CPI: Get a roadmap ready
CPI state secretary K Narayana demanded an immediate announcement of a roadmap towards a separate Telangana state. He recalled that except the Congress, TDP and YSRC all other political parties in the state have categorically expressed their stances on the issue already.
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