Amid speculations of imposition of President Rule or putting in place a new government, The Union Cabinet is expected to take a final call on Friday. The Union Cabinet is expected to discuss and take a final decision in this regard tomorrow as the AICC is in a hurry to settle the issue. Despite passing the T bill in Parliament the Congress wants the TRS to merge into it and then decide on President’s assent and Gazette to be published to accord statehood to Telangana, sources said. For obvious reasons of nullifying the TD and YCP in 2014 general elections, the Congress party wants to repair itself by having truck with like minded parties. Simultaneously it wants to rope in a leader of image for CM post.
Since people and political parties are eagerly awaiting the decision on President Rule or a new Chief Minister for interim period, AICC Chief Sonia Gandhi wanted the Center to finalise the issue. Sonia is understood to have asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to call a Cabinet meeting for the purpose. The Center wants to find a successor of caretaker Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy who resigned, or use Article 356. Though it was speculated that a strong Kapu leader with good image like Union Minister Chiranjeevi may be the new CM, it is not yet clear on what the Center is going to decide on this crucial issue. A close aide of Chiranjeevi stated that the Union Minister is not averse to take up the responsibility. It may be noted that Chiru who flew down at Shamshabad Airport from Delhi after meeting Digivijay Singh, told media that he is not in the race of CM post. However he maintained that the media will know the things first if such situation arises, he said. Thus, he gave feelers that he may take up the mantle if AICC so desires. Chiru is still being thought to be the front runner for the top post for which other Kapu leaders Kanna Lakshminarayana and PCC Chief Botcha Satyanrayana are also contending. However, the AICC seems to be in a mood to guess the mood of the political parties and people of both the regions in this regard. Interestingly, in a related development TRS Chief K Chandrasekhar Rao has pre-poned a party meeting and gone into a huddle with his party senior leaders. He is said to have taken their opinion on merger. Though many leaders of the TRS are reluctant to merge with the Congress, as it achieved the Telangana state after a dozen above years of movement, it is for KCR to decide. AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh stated that KCR has hinted at the merger, the latter stated that the process is yet to begin.
It is learnt that the Center mulling options to chose either. It may go with using Article 356 of the Constitution to impose President Rule in Andhra Pradesh until two states are formed. It is clear that the Congress or any other party may not lose the winning changes in the forthcoming general elections. If that is the case it is sure that the Congress may rope in Chiru for the top post, as he can do some magic in the elections to come. To defeat TD and YCP in Seemandhra and Telangana respectively, the Congress desires to replace Kiran with new one who can be crowd puller and game changer. However it is to be seen whether the Center will take a final decision in this regard during its Cabinet meeting to be held on Friday. AICC Chief Sonia Gandhi reportedly asked the Center and Prime Minister to take a final call in this episode. (NSS)
