Date:13/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/13/stories/2004121304920600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Yechury, Maran on Telangana panel?

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, DEC. 12. The UPA is reportedly considering inclusion of the CPI(M) leader, Sitaram Yechury, and a DMK representative, possibly Union Minister, Dayanidhi Maran, on its sub-committee to go into the issue of separate Telangana.

Sources in the Congress said the AICC had consulted the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on the composition of the panel since the issue pertained to the State. Indications available here are that the Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, and the Union Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar, may also be included in the sub-committee.

A panel with these four names would throw up interesting prospects as the CPI(M) stand against statehood for Telangana is well known. Mr. Mukherjee has favoured second States Reorganisation Commission as distinct from the TRS' demand for statehood for Telangana without the SRC.

Our Staff reporter writes from Visakhapatnam:

The CPI assistant secretary, K. Narayana, and the State executive member, Puvvada Nageswara Rao, have said the turnout at the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) meeting in Hyderabad reflected people's discontent and failure of the nine-year TDP rule. At a press conference at Gajuwaka today, they reminded that the CPI had been demanding a special package of Rs. 5,000 crores to solve the area's backwardness.