Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Thanks to TRS, new dynasty rises in Telangana


Chandrasekhar Rao’s son K Taraka Rama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao play a key role in deciding the day-to-day affairs of the party.

Published: 05th May 2013 11:08 AM  |   Last Updated: 05th May 2013 11:08 AM


Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K Chandrasekhar Rao’s dream of carving out a Telangana state still eludes him, so he is busy putting together the political dreams of the next generation in his family. TRS appears to be the latest entrant in the long list of political leaders bitten by the dynasty bug.
Chandrasekhar Rao’s son K Taraka Rama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao play a key role in deciding the day-to-day affairs of the party. Rama Rao represents Siricilla segment in the Assembly whereas Harish Rao is the MLA from Siddipet.
With his son and nephew at the helm of affairs, Chandrasekhar Rao has cleared the decks for his daughter K Kavitha, who has been playing a key role in the Telangana movement by taking up non-political issues concerning the region with her outfit Telangana Jagruthi, to take the political plunge.
Kavitha is likely to get her first taste of electoral politics in the 2014 polls by contesting the Nizamabad Lok Sabha seat. Kavitha sitting on the dais at the 12th formation day meeting of the TRS, held on April 27 at Armoor in Nizamabad district lends credence to this argument.
Twelve years ago when he launched the TRS, Chandrasekhar Rao said he had started the party with an aim to bring statehood to Telangana and he promised that he would never allow his family members to interfere in party affairs. Now, the TRS has become a family fiefdom of Rao with his kin calling the shots in the party.
Rao often draws flak from his critics and political rivals for this. Latest to attack the TRS boss is former MP Chada Suresh Reddy, who had quit the Telugu Desam Party to join the TRS three years ago. “Chandrasekhar Rao’s fight was not for the sake of separate Telangana but for the sake of his family development,” Reddy criticised, who now stands suspended.
The TRS chief, a silver-tongued politician, always rules out the charges of his critics that he is using the Telangana movement to get political power for his family. In retaliation against the jibes of his critics, he says, “I am not simply making members of my family play key roles in the party. I allot them suitable positions in the party only after considering their services. All of them are sweating it out to intensify the Telangana movement.”
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Foes eat crow as Kiran Reddy flies high


Eyes firmly on general elections hardly a year away, Kiran has been announcing populist schemes left, right and centre, travelling around the state to publicise them.

Published: 28th April 2013 11:43 AM  |   Last Updated: 28th April 2013 11:43 AM


Written off as a lightweight two years ago, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is on a roll—wearing the skipper’s cap with aplomb as he steers the Congress ship to the coast, all the while fighting headwinds in the shape of Jagan Mohan Reddy and the Telangana flag-bearers.
Eyes firmly on general elections hardly a year away, Kiran has been announcing populist schemes left, right and centre, travelling around the state to publicise them.
To show that he means business and who is boss, the chief minister scrapped Rajasekhara Reddy’s decision to allot mines and lands to private companies, in which the late chief minister’s family members allegedly owned stakes. Kiran’s move to allot Bayyaram iron mines to the state-run Vizag Steel Plant and scrapping allotment of 10,760 acres to Brahmani Industries, owned by former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy, are all indicators of a steely resolve.
Though separatist entities in the state decried the move to allot Bayyaram mines in Telangana to Vizag Steel Plant in Seemandhra, Kiran refused to buckle under pressure, his stand being that he allocated natural resources to a public sector company and not to a private party as was done during YSR’s regime.
The picture was very different two years ago when Kiran was appointed chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. Several Congress leaders questioned the high command’s decision to opt for a leader who had never held a ministerial berth. The prediction was that Kiran would not last more than a year.
Kiran not only proved his critics wrong but also established himself as an effective leader, successfully dealing with the Jagan factor in Seemandhra and T-sentiment in Telangana, which had been threatening the Congress’ electoral prospects in the state.
A former first-class cricketer, the chief minister is playing the game safe to rescue his team from a possible debacle in the 2014 big fight.
And he is succeeding. The Congress’ landslide victory in the just-concluded cooperative polls revived the flagging morale of Congress cadres, who had been disenchanted following the party’s rout in bypolls held for 18 Assembly segments.
Kiran emerged even stronger after the no-confidence motion, moved by Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) on March 15, was defeated. With principal Opposition Telugu Desam remaining neutral and the MIM abstaining from voting, Kiran comfortably sailed through the second no-trust motion brought against him.
The ongoing CBI probe into the assets case against Jagan Mohan Reddy and naming of some of his Cabinet colleagues in the chargesheet were other bolstering factors.
Realising that Kiran was a force to be reckoned with, many of his detractors are now trying to mend fences with him. For instance, Telangana votary and one time foe in the party former minister R Damodar Reddy, who used to fire salvos at the chief minister over the Telangana issue, is now heaping encomiums on him.
Health Minister D L Ravindra Reddy, a vociferous critic of the chief minister, too seems to be falling in line to make peace with Kiran. Ravindra Reddy, who reportedly extensively lobbied to replace Kiran with some other leader, recently stated that he would continue to be chief minister till 2014 polls.
Interestingly, even PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana, who has a running feud with Kiran, mended fences with him. The state Congress boss, who used to use every occasion to corner the chief minister, is busy following Kiran on his whirlwind tours undertaken to publicise welfare schemes.
The chief minister is justifiably satisfied and it was evident when he recently said: “I was greeted by empty coffers when I assumed office. The state was facing separatist agitations. Threats from within the party tried to destabilise the government. But, I have successfully overcome those difficulties and restored the shaky economic condition of the state.”
The canny politician has even managed to use the acute power crisis in the state to his advantage. As part of his many populist schemes, Kiran is now planning to launch Indiramma Deepam to tide over the power shortage. Under the proposed scheme, solar panels would be supplied to the people on subsidy to generate power.

The Sunday Standard

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Politicians use the best of Telugu to the worst effect

Though general polls are a year away, leaders are testing their tongue lashing skills

Published: 26th April 2013 09:26 AM  |   Last Updated: 26th April 2013 09:26 AM

Bandipotu (dacoit), Kallu Tagina Koti (drunken monkey), Daddhamma (most incompetent fellow), Jebu Donga (pickpocket), Neechudu (mean fellow), Nikrustudu (debauched) and Tagubothu (drunkard) - these are not the latest Tollywood titles, but are a part of the ever-expanding political lexicon of our leaders.
Sweltering heat of the summer might have decreased for now. But, politicos are increasing the political temperature in the State with their high-voltage punch dialogues.
Though general elections are a year away, leaders of various political hues are vying with one another in testing their tongue-lashing skills. Name-calling, personal attacks and heaping choicest abuses on rivals have become the order of the day. It all started with Finance Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy’s broadside against YSRC chief Jagan Mohan Reddy 10 days ago. He had said it wouldn’t be wrong if the Kadapa MP were executed for his corruption. Anam had also called the son of his former boss late YS Rajasekhara Reddy a “looter”.
As soon as Anam opened fire and dropped hints that the Congress has decided to disown YSR, some of his cabinet colleagues joined the chorus and hurled choices epithets at Jagan. In retaliation, the YSRC leaders tried to outdo the Congressmen.
In the lexicon of YSRC leaders, their Congress counterparts are betrayers and back-stabbers, who had crawled before the late Rajasekhara Reddy when he was alive and ditched him soon after his demise.
With the Congress and YSRC grabbing space in the media with their punches, the TDP could not remain a wallflower and it too targeted the YSRC and the Congress. For TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and his party leaders, Jagan is a dacoit and his followers robbers. Naidu called the Congress “a party of thieves” and the YSRC a “party of bandicoots”.
Not to lag behind, even Left leaders like CPI State secretary K Narayana and CPM State secretary BV Raghavulu took to name-calling. Narayana called Jagan a dacoit and Raghavulu termed N Kiran Kumar Reddy the most incompetent chief minister.
With the State government opening up “Bayyaram can of worms” by allocating its iron ore mines to the Vizag Steel Plant, silver-tongued TRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao entered the scene.
Taking strong objection to the allegation of Naidu that TRS is a farmhouse party, KCR, a vehement critic of the TDP chief, went to the extent of criticising the physical features of Naidu.
But neither Naidu nor his partymen exercised restraint in hitting back at KCR. TDP senior Mothkupalli Narasimulu used all possible abuses to attack KCR. He called KCR Neechudu (mean fellow), Nikrushtudu (debauched) and Tagubothu (drunkard).
Another senior leader of the TDP, Kodela Siva Prasada Rao too joined Narasimulu. In his dictionary, KCR is a traitor. In a bid to strike back at the TDP, TRS leader Eatela Rajender called the yellow party leaders “drunken monkeys”.

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Andhra arena ready for star wars


Reel heroes and heroines will battle for supremacy at the hustings next year, only time will say how they will fare.

Published: 07th April 2013 11:29 AM  |   Last Updated: 07th April 2013 02:33 PM


It has all the makings of a star-studded mega show. After conquering Tollywood and Bollywood, and establishing herself as a politician of formidable repute first in her native Andhra Pradesh and then in Uttar Pradesh, yesteryears actress Jayaprada is heading back home to lead an entourage of filmstars who will spice up the glamour quotient in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state next year.
The Rampur MP reportedly has her eyes set on the Rajahmundry Lok Sabha seat which she hopes to bag on a YSR Congress Party ticket.  Jayaprada started her political career with the blessings of N T Rama Rao in the TDP, before shifting allegiance to the Samajwadi Party, which she was forced to leave in February 2010.
Jayaprada, who turned 52 last week, dropped enough hints about her intentions while speaking in Tirupati last week. Sympathising with YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy, she said, “Committed political leaders are harassed everywhere. I treated Mulayam Singh Yadav like my father, but he hounded me out of the party. Here too, the Congress is harassing Jagan for refusing to yield before the high command.” She also could not stop singing paeans to the late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, saying, “The state needs a leader like YSR now.”
Jayaprada is not the only star fan of YSRCP. Secunderabad MLA Jayasudha has hinted that she might cross over to Jagan’s party. Actor and former BJP leader Naresh recently announced that he would soon join the YSRCP. Said Naresh, “The people are looking for a dynamic leader who can carry forward the legacy of YSR. It is none other than Jagan Reddy.” He is expecting the party ticket for Hindupur Assembly segment. Actor Srihari also said he would be in Jagan’s camp, after meeting Jagan at Chanchalguda prison two months ago. Others like actress Roja, actors Giri Babu, Vijaychandar and Raja are already active members. Among producers, MLA Kodali Sri Venkateswara Rao has already defected to YSRCP from TDP.
Filmmaker and TDP MP from Chittoor, K Siva Prasad is also leaning towards YSRCP. The party leadership could give him a ticket for the Chittoor LS seat.
The YSRCP leadership is said to be trying to get veteran actor Krishna’s brother Adiseshagiri Rao on its side to contest from either Eluru or Guntur for the Lok Sabha as Krishna has a massive fan following in coastal districts. Director Puri Jagannath too is also inching towards YSRCP.
Principal Opposition TDP has always maintained good connections with the film fraternity. The star power the party boasts of are NTR’s son Balakrishna and grandson NTR Jr. Balakrishna has announced that he would be contesting in 2014. NTR Jr, though is undecided.
Star and Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi after merging his Praja Rajyam Party with the Congress, is trying to reinvent himself in the new equation.
Actor and producer Murali Mohan, who lost the 2009 Lok Sabha polls from Rajahmundry is getting ready to contest the seat on a TDP ticket. Separatist Telangana Rashtra Samithi’s lone star charisma lies in MP and yesteryear actress Vijayashanti.

The Sunday Standard



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MIM brothers at odds over deal for MLC seat


Published: 23rd March 2013 08:09 AM  |   Last Updated: 23rd March 2013 09:31 AM


A rift is said to have been occurred between MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother Akbaruddin over a proposed deal with the Congress in the election to the lone MLC seat under the Hyderabad local authorities constituency quota.
MIM insiders said Asaduddin wants to back a Congress candidate for the seat -- to keep a promise he made to the ruling party in return for allowing the MIM to have the Hyderabad mayor’s post -- Akbaruddin wants to gang up with the TDP to teach a lesson to the Congress for throwing him in jail.
The elder brother is said to think that a deal with the Congress will yield more benefits to the MIM in its effort to expand to other states than forging an alliance with the TDP, which is confined to Andhra Pradesh only.
The MIM leadership will meet Saturday to finalise its tactics. Akbaruddin, the MIM’s floor leader in the Assembly, met minister M Mukesh Goud in the lobbies of the Assembly Thursday and sought the ruling party’s support to a candidate his party intends to field for the MLC seat.
But even as the MIM was undecided, PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana finalised the name of M S Prabhakar, the present incumbent, as the Congress candidate. Interestingly, Botcha seemed confident that the MIM will support the Congress candidate despite the recent break in their alliance.
Botcha handed over the B-form for the MLC seat to Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee president Danam Nagender.
Speaking to reporters, Danam said, “We have held talks with the MIM to secure their support as per our earlier agreement and we will talk again. We are confident we’ll get their support.”
These developments after MIM abstained from the no-trust vote in the Assembly last week.
Political observers think it odd that Owaisi, the Elder, would want to cosy up to Kiran Kumar Reddy’s party after having called him an agent of the Sangh Pariwar four months ago.
Still bristling over his arrest after he made a vitriolic speech, Akbaruddin bumped into TDP leaders M Narasimulu, P Keshav and A Revanth Reddy in the Assembly lobbies Thursday and sought the yellow party’s support.
However, TDP leader Talasani Srinvas Yadav made it clear that his party will not play ball.
“We are not ready to respond to the “friendly gesture” of the MIM for now,” he said.

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Fathers as stepping stones, Congressmen seek MLC spot

At least half a dozen progeny of yesteryear’s political heavyweights of the Congress party in Andhra Pradesh have lined up for party ticket to sneak into the state Legislative Council.

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Down to the Telangana: Kiran lays it out for high command


Riding high on the Telangana and Jagan Mohan Reddy issue, Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy seems to have scored some brownie points with the high command.

Published: 10th February 2013 08:05 AM  |   Last Updated: 10th February 2013 08:05 AM

Riding high on the Telangana and Jagan Mohan Reddy issue, Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy seems to have scored some brownie points with the high command. Dogged by the Jagan menace, Telagana conflict and internal dissent, Kiran Reddy submitted a detailed report to his party high command explaining that the state should not be bifurcated.
A decision in favour of Telangana state would only pave the way for YSR Congress to sweep the 2014 polls in the Seemandhra region, Kiran Reddy is learnt to have said.
Pointing out the fact that YSRC had been relegated to the third position in the recently-held cooperative polls in the state, Kiran Reddy is understood to have said that these results prove that Jagan Reddy’s popularity is on the wane. As the YSRC is the only party which did not fully back the formation of Telangana state during the recent all-party meeting in Delhi, a positive decision over T-state would be used by Jagan to win the 2014 elections by raking up the Andhra sentiment, Kiran Reddy reportedly reasoned.
Sources divulged that in his report, Kiran Reddy also underscored Maoist resurgence in Telangana, knotty issues like status of Hyderabad and sharing of river waters in support of his opinion.
Even after the announcement of AICC state in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad that there was no deadline for deciding the Telangana issue, no largescale protests took place in the region, the chief minister pointed out, adding that there was also no opposition from Telangana ministers and Congress MLAs. Congress victory in eight out of 10 Telangana districts in the cooperative polls clearly indicates that the Congress can resolve the issue by setting up a regional development council instead of granting statehood, he said.
Coincidently, K Chandrasekhar Rao, whose actions have always benefitted the Congress has also decided to go cold on the Telangana issue. KCR’s party the Telangana Rashtra Samiti has decided to shift its attention on building the party from grassroots level. The shift of emphasis from agitational to purely political activities comes in the context of suspicions in the TRS that the UPA government is getting ready for the next election. The thinking within the TRS is that the Telangana knot will be unravelled only after the elections.
Meanwhile, the CM further said that even if the Congress delivers Telangana state, there is no guarantee that the ruling party will get electoral benefits as it would have to compete with several other pro-Telangana parties in the region.
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Bifurcation will help Jagan: CM


A decision in favour of Telangana state would only pave the way for YSR Congress to sweep the 2014 polls in the Seemandhra region, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is learnt to have told his party high command during his visit to Delhi a couple of days ago.

Published: 07th February 2013 10:11 AM  |   Last Updated: 07th February 2013 10:11 AM


A decision in favour of Telangana state would only pave the way for YSR Congress to sweep the 2014 polls in the Seemandhra region, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is learnt to have told his party high command during his visit to Delhi a couple of days ago.
Pointing out the fact that YSRC had been relegated to the third position in the recently-held cooperative polls in the state, Kiran Reddy is understood to have told his party leadership that these results prove that YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s popularity is on the wane.
As the YSRC is the only party which did not fully back the formation of Telangana state during the recent all-party meeting in Delhi, a positive decision over T-state would be used by Jagan to win the 2014 elections by raking up the Andhra sentiment, Kiran Reddy reportedly reasoned.
The chief minister, during his two-day stay in Delhi, submitted a detailed report to his party high command explaining the pros and cons of bifurcating the state.
Sources divulged that in his report, Kiran Reddy also underscored Maoist resurgence in Telangana, knotty issues like status of Hyderabad and sharing of river waters in support of his opinion that the state should not be bifurcated.
Even after the announcement of AICC state in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad that there was no deadline for deciding the Telangana issue, no large-scale protests took place in the region, the chief minister pointed out, adding that there was also no opposition from Telangana ministers and Congress MLAs. Congress victory in eight out of 10 Telangana districts in the cooperative polls clearly indicates that the Congress can resolve the issue by setting up a regional development council instead of granting statehood, he said.
According to sources, Kiran Reddy told the party high command that Telangana sentiment is confined mainly to only four districts--Warangal, Nizamabad, Karimangar and Medak. The T-factor does not significantly influence the electoral prospects of the Congress in the remaining districts, he said.
He further said that even if the Congress delivers Telangana state, there is no guarantee that the ruling party will get electoral benefits from the decision as it would have to compete with several other pro-Telangana parties in the region.
Though the chief minister is reportedly argued against bifurcation, he told his party leadership that he would abide by whatever the decision high command takes.
“I have clearly explained to you the ramifications of any decision on the Telangana issue,” Kiran Reddy reportedly told to his high command.
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Kiran camp wary of Botcha's suspension act


Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s supporters are all agog with rumours over the possible reasons for PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana\'s sudden suspension of nine Jagan loyalist MLAs from the party at a time when the government is resting on a wafer-thin majority.

Published: 03rd February 2013 09:13 AM  |   Last Updated: 03rd February 2013 09:13 AM


Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s supporters are all agog with rumours over the possible reasons for PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana’s sudden suspension of nine Jagan loyalist MLAs from the party at a time when the government is resting on a wafer-thin majority. The CM campers believe Botcha’s move was a calculated one to corner Kiran Kumar with whom he has a running feud.
Close aides of the chief minister believe that Botcha resorted to the step only to throw the government into a crisis ahead of the budget session in retaliation to the letter sent to AICC chief Sonia Gandhi by PCC vice-president S Indrasain Reddy, requesting her to initiate disciplinary action against the PCC chief for taking part in the ‘Jai Andhra Pradesh’ meeting held in Rajahmundry recently.
The state Congress boss suspects the hand of Kiran Kumar behind the letter. As Indrasain Reddy released the letter to the media on Thursday only after confabulating with chief minister’s confidant M Ranga Reddy at the CLP office here, Botcha feels that Kiran Kumar is encouraging Botcha’s detractors in the party.
Giving a sneak peak into his mind, Botcha had lost his cool at the media conference held at Gandhi Bhavan here Friday. He said to a reporter from a TV channel run by the CM’s close aides: “I know about that letter. Only your channel has prominently telecast it. I can understand who are behind this letter.”
The talk in the Congress circles is that Botcha is now making his moves keeping in mind his own agenda to corner Kiran Kumar.
Meanwhile, as many as five ministers on Saturday swung into action and started assuring everyone about the survival of the government. Ministers Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, D Sridhar Babu, N Raghuveera Reddy, Kasu Venkata Krishna Reddy and P Sunitha Lakshma Reddy on Saturday said: “Botcha cracked the whip on those nine pro-Jagan MLAs only to make it clear that anti-party activities will not be tolerated. Despite the disciplinary action on these legislators, we have sufficient numbers in the House. Our government will last its full term and Kiran Reddy will continue to be the chief minister till 2014 polls.”
Political pundits have already started making their calculations in the event that a no-confidence motion is moved during the budget session. The Assembly has an effective strength of 293 members (TDP legislator Suman Rathod’s membership was annulled by the court).
The Congress has a strength of 156 members, including one associate member K Srisailam Goud. The TDP has 85, TRS has 18 (17+1), YSRCP (17), MIM (7), CPI (4), BJP (3), CPM (1), Lok Satta (1) and an independent (Nagam Janardhana Reddy).
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Seemandhra meet told a horror tale


The convention of Seemandhra Congress leaders heard in rapt attention as four ministers who met two AICC members recounted the bad news that the Congress high command has made up its mind to form a Telangana state to contain Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Published: 18th January 2013 09:36 AM  |   Last Updated: 18th January 2013 09:43 AM

The convention of Seemandhra Congress leaders at Ministers’ Quarters here on Thursday heard in rapt attention as four ministers who met two AICC high commandos in Delhi on Wednesday breathlessly recounted the bad news they had learnt.
 The ‘intelligence’ they came back with and shared with the flock at a swanky club house was this: they have decided to give Telangana.
 The account rendered by M/s T G Venkatesh, Erasu Pratap Reddy, Kasu Venkata Krishna Reddy and P Viswaroop of their meetings with Ghulab Nabi Azad and Vayalar Ravi was, uncharacteristically, fulsome and graphic.
 For that reason, sceptics dubbed it as an orchestration of alarms.
 Sources in the convention said Venkatesh and Pratap Reddy led the presentation and they said they were told that the Congress high command has made up its mind to form a Telangana state to contain Jagan Mohan Reddy.
 As painted by the duo, the view from the Centre is that the Congress thinks it’s a nohope situation for it in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema in the face of the Jagan onslaught and the party may be salvaged at least in Telangana if a separated state is given.
 “When we urged Vayalar Ravi not to divide the state, he wanted to know (rhetorically) how many seats the Congress would win if Andhra Pradesh were kept united. He asked us whether we would be able to contain Jagan in Seemandhra in the present scenario.
 On the other hand, in the event of a bifurcation of the state, the Congress would win a good number of MP seats in Telangana as the TRS is willing to merge with the Congress,” one member of the foursome reportedly told the assembly.
 So, in the telling of the four, Vayalar was warned that the government of Kiran Kumar Reddy would collapse within moments of an announcement of statehood for Telangana. And the AICC man is learnt to have replied: “We know that.”
 He went on to add that the Congress was ready to risk the loss of its state government.
 The convention was told that the high command seemed to be unconcerned about the possibility of mass defections from the party in the event of a Telangana announcement.
 As quoted by one of the foursome, Ravi even told them, “If any one of you wants to quit the party, do so immediately. We are ready to set up a new team in Seemandhra.”
Ravi reportedly made light of the objections of the four that division of the state would call open sesame to disputes over water sharing “Is Rayalaseema not getting water from Karnataka after formation of Andhra Pradesh? Don’t you have a Tungabhadra Board for sharing of river waters with Karnataka? Similarly, inter-state agreements would take care of water sharing among new states,” Ravi was quoted as saying.
 And when the four ministers warned of a violent backlash in Seemandhra, Ravi is said to have dismissed that threat: “Why are there no agitations in your region for a United Andhra now while there is an intense movement in Telangana? Have you taken part in any agitation in your region?” The four minister told the convention that the response from Azad was similar.
 He is said to have admitted that the Dec.
 9, 2009 statement of then home minister P Chidambaram was a mistake but one from which there was no going back.
 The four ministers’ attempt to paint a picture of horror for the benefit of the Congress leaders at the convention was in sharp contrast with the cockiness of Seemandhra lobbyists thus far that a Telangana state would never be.
 Giving credence to the sceptics, serial Telangana baiter Lagadapati Rajagopal seemed cocksure that the state cannot be bifurcated with the political cards stacked as they are.
 Speaking in New Delhi, he said there was no way in which the bill of separate statehood would come to pass.
 However, while the four minister sought to lend a sense of urgency to the proceedings of the convention, the Seemandhra flock kept itself to the rather pedestrian response of sending a petition- bearing delegation to Delhi in Jan 21 to stymie any bifurcation move rather than to resign en masse as they they done in 2009.
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Seemandhra ministers predict bifurcation

Published: 17th January 2013 10:09 AM  |   Last Updated: 17th January 2013 10:10 AM

 The Seemandhra ministers who went to Delhi as a delegation to scuttle any move to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh were given audiences by AICC high commandos Ghulam Nabi Azad and Vayalar Ravi on Wednesday.
 Emerging from those meetings, members of the delegation were keen to indicate that the Centre’s mind is leaning towards bifurcation.
 Minister T G Venkatesh, a hardcore advocate of united Andhra Pradesh, said, “The mood of the high command seems to be favourable to a Telangana state. The Centre seems to be considering the statehood demand to bail out Congress leaders from Telangana who are facing problems in their region.”
 The other ministers in the delegation were Erasu Pratap Reddy, P Viswaroop and Kasu Venkata Krishna Reddy. They first met Azad and then Vayalar Ravi.
 During these meetings, the ministers cautioned the Centre about a violent backlash in Andhra and Rayalaseema if a Telangana state is announced. In addition to this red rag, they also trotted out familiar antibifurcation points: shared Telugu culture, possibility of inter-state water sharing disputes, etc.
 However, despite their spiel, the ministers felt that the chances of a separate Telangana state are bright. However, other Seemandhra leaders such as Guntur MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao said this was yet more speculation. Union minister M M Pallam Raju added his bit to the babel of voices on Telangana.
 “All the reports emanating from Delhi, that the Centre is considering formation of a Telangana state are only speculation. Personally, I back a united Andhra. If Andhra Pradesh, the largest state in the south, is bifurcated, we will lose bargaining power at the Centre as our strength of MPs will be divided between the two states.”
Interestingly, minister Danam Nagender, who set off the ongoging verbal duel on the Telangana issue by claiming that he had enough indications that a separate state would be formed soon, changed his tune after meeting chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy along with minister Mukesh Goud.
Nagender and Goud said, “If at all a division of the state is imminent, then Hyderabad should be made a separate state. Before taking any decision our high command should take us into confidence”. Back in Hyderabad, interregional tempers ran high on the eve of a convention of Seemandhra ministers in Congress leaders in the state capital on Thursday.

While Congress MPs from Telangana called upon people of their region to obstruct the proposed meeting, Seemandhra pledged to meet come what may. Telangana MP Madhu Yashki Goud saw the hand of some shadow figures behind the moves to hold the inyour- face meeting.
 “KVP Ramachandra Rao orchestrated a drama of resignations by Seemandhra elected representatives after the Dec. 9, 2009 statement was issued by the Centre. He is once again hatching a conspiracy to block the formation of a Telangana state,” he said in Delhi.
 Reacting to this, Sambasiva Rao said, “We will hold the Samaikyandhra meeting at any cost. We are not cowards to cancel the meeting.” Added minister Ghanta Srinivasa Rao: “We have every right to hold a Samaikyandra meeting in Hyderabad.
 We will resign if Telangana is given. And our resignations in support of a united state will not be perfunctory like the ones given by Telangana leaders.”
 Ministers from Telangana under the leadership of panchayat raj minister K Jana Reddy made an appeal to their counterparts from Seemandhra not to raise the temperature at this juncture.
 The leaders of TJAC decided to hold a silent protest at Gun Park here on Thursday. Kodandaram said, “Seemandhra leaders are holding this meeting only to provoke the Telangana people. It is not good of them to do this.
 If anybody comes in the way of the formation of a Telangana state, they will be crushed like stones under the wheels of the chariot of Lord Jagannath.”

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