Differences in Cong delays decision on Telangana

“We are caught between the devil and the deep sea.” That is how a senior Congress functionary summed up the party’s stand on the Telangana imbroglio.

“We are caught between the devil and the deep sea.” That is how a senior Congress functionary summed up the party’s stand on the Telangana imbroglio.

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Adding to the Congress’s woes, the party’s pro-Telangana MPs have been disrupting Parliament proceedings for three days now. On Wednesday, Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day without transacting any significant business. The house was to take up the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, 2010, for discussion.

The party is in a dilemma over the issue. With contradictory views pouring in from different sections, a decision on the matter is being delayed.

A powerful section in the Congress has maintained that if Telangana is carved out of Andhra Pradesh, the party stands to be a major loser. They argue that it was a win-win situation for the Telangana Rashtra Samiti that would gain notwithstanding whether the new state is formed or not.

The pro-Telangana section has refused to buy this argument. They have repeatedly told the central leadership that the Congress would be wiped out from the region if a resolution on the issue was delayed.

They have said the sentiments of the people of the region were against the Congress, which is reflected in the recent bypolls. “It is becoming increasingly difficult for us to contain the situation,” a senior MP from Telangana said.

But the leaders in favour of united Andhra rejected the argument. They are of the opinion that if the Congress decides against a separate Telangana state, the party would gain in coastal Andhra (123 assembly and 17 Lok Sabha seats) and Rayalseema (52 assembly and 8 parliamentary seats). In contrast, they said Telangana has 117 assembly and 17 LS seats.