Date:20/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/04/20/stories/2005042012940400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Separate PCC for Telangana ruled out

Staff Reporter

Palvai Govardhan Reddy

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Telangana protagonist and senior Congress leader, Palvai Govardhan Reddy, on Tuesday pooh-poohed the talk of forming a separate Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) for Telangana.

``You can't have a separate PCC as long as we are in united Andhra Pradesh. And as of now, there is no plan to set up separate PCC for Telangana,'' he told reporters here.

Mr. Reddy, who was the party's returning officer for holding the City Congress Committee elections, said that the party president, Sonia Gandhi, would decide everything at the appropriate time.

He said two PCCs was not possible without separation, adding only Ms. Gandhi was competent to decide on constitution of Telangana Regional Congress Committee (TRCC) as and when required.

``A decision on TRCC will be decided by her and the Congress Working Committee as per the guidelines framed by the All-India Congress Committee,'' he said.

Commenting on the exercise launched for the party's organisational polls, he said the process of election of the PCC president would be completed by April 29.

"The election process is progressing smoothly in all districts,'' he added.