Date:20/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/20/stories/2008032060420100.htm

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Telangana: rumblings in TDP again

Byelections prompt some leaders to raise statehood issue

Meeting held at the residence of T. Devender Goud
Telangana leaders want party to openly support statehood movement

HYDERABAD: Rumblings over Telangana continued to dog Telugu Desam with a group of senior leaders from the region, who held a meeting at the residence of T. Devender Goud on Tuesday night, reportedly favouring the party to take a firm stand on the issue before the byelections in 16 Assembly and four Lok Sabha constituencies.

As an immediate fallout of the meeting, TDP president N.Chandrababu Naidu has decided to call for a meeting of leaders from these constituencies from Thursday.

Party sources said the leaders from the region expressed their worry over the “indecisiveness” of the leadership in taking a stand on Telangana issue. They had discussed the agenda and the strategy the party should adopt for the byelections in the wake of the recent political developments in the region.

The sources said that while the TDP leaders from the coastal region were in favour of an integrated State, majority from Telangana was keen that the party should openly support separate statehood. “Everybody in the region is worried.

The unanimous view is that party should support Telangana cause,” a legislator from Telangana said.

The meeting had its echo in the Assembly lobbies on Wednesday and Mr. Goud however took pains to clarify that significance need not be attached to it.

“It was held to review the political situation in view of the impending byelections. One should understand that leaders within the party have met and not outsiders.”

The senior party leaders who attended the meeting included Kadiam Srihari, E. Peddi Reddy, Ch. Rajeswara Rao, S. Venugopala Chary and Gutta Sukhender Reddy.

Asked about the meeting, Telugu Desam Legislature Party secretary E. Dayakar Rao said that the discussion was confined to the byelections.

There was no discussion on separate Telangana issue. He maintained that the leaders would abide by the decision of the party.

Warning ignored

The meeting was held despite a stern warning by the TDP president to party leaders to wait till the party formulates its stand.