Congress MPs and MLAs on Wednesday demanded that the High Command announce a favourable decision on the formation of Telangana to save the party in the region.
Making a representation to Union Minister and observer Vayalar Ravi at Lake View Guest House on Wednesday evening, the separate delegations of newly elected Congress MLAs from the region and Lok Sabha MPs demanded that further delay in taking a decision on the statehood issue would prove costly for the party.
Talking to reporters after meeting Vayalar Ravi, Medhcal MLA K Lakshma Reddy said that the immediate announcement in favour of Telangana State could save the party from being wiped from the region. He said most of the problems being faced by the State Government were linked to the demand for Telangana. The MLAs also demanded filling up of all posts in the District Congress Committees and nominated posts.
Six Congress MPs who met at the residence of former MP K Keshav Rao also submitted a representation to Vayalar Ravi demanding immediate decision on Telangana. The MPs – Gutta Sukhender Reddy, Ponnam Prabhakar, Manda Jagannatham, S Rajaiah, G Vivek and Balram Naik said that all leaders from the region would agree for nothing less than a separate State of Telangana.
Talking to reporters later, Keshava Rao said that the Congress party would be in a suicidal position if it delays the decision on Telangana further. He said that the Congress MPs would meet again in New Delhi on April 24 to decide the future course of action.
Peddapalli MP G Vivek claimed that the Congress would become stronger if the party announces its decision on Telangana State. He also slammed Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy for his remarks made during Prajapatham programme in Visakhapatnam on the groupism in the party. He said the Chief Minister himself was responsible for the same and the growing dissent in the party was primarily due to his discriminatory behaviour with different leaders.
Nagarkurnool MP Manda Jagannatham denied charges that the Lok Sabha MPs were responsible for the party’s debacle in the recently held by-elections. He said all the decisions were unanimously taken by the Chief Minister and the MPs were never consulted on the issue of selection of candidates or the campaign. However, he clarified that he could not participate in the campaign due to ill-health.
Meanwhile, Malkajgiri MP Sarve Satyanarayana defended the Chief Minister and said that he should not be replaced. He said that the State was facing two major problems of SC categorisation and Telangana. He said the party would fare well if it resolves both the issues.
Satyanarayana further demanded that the Chief Minister should be given a free hand in nominating the candidates on different posts. He also demanded that more leaders from the Telangana region be included in the Union Cabinet and one more leader from the minority communities be included in the State cabinet. (INN)