Telangana issue: Andhra CM meets Sonia Gandhi

Amid mounting pressure frompro-Telangana groups for an early decision on the statehood issue, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and discussed the matter.

Amid mounting pressure frompro-Telangana groups for an early decision on the statehood issue, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and discussed the matter.

HT Image

Reddy, who arrived in the national Capital in the wee hours, had an hour-long meeting with AICC general secretary in-charge of the state Ghulam Nabi Azad soon after his arrival.

He then drove to the residence of Gandhi where her political secretary Ahmed Patel also joined in. The meeting is underway.

Party spokesperson PC Chacko had said on January 30 that Congress is not against the formation of Telangana but it needs time to complete the formalities. He signalled that the process has been put on the fast track.

"Congress is not against the formation of Telangana state. We are in the process of taking a decision but then formalities have to be completed," Chacko had told reporters.

His remarks had come even as Congress MPs from Telangana were waiting for an appointment with Gandhi for submitting their resignation to press for an early creation of a separate state.