Date:31/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/31/stories/2008073155230500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Telugu Desam leaders’ views on Telangana not official: Yerran

Special Correspondent

Party’s core panel will announce decision by the year-end

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Parliamentary Party Leader K. Yerran Naidu on Wednesday declared that views expressed by leaders on Telangana, no matter how senior they were in the party’s hierarchy, were only individual opinions.

Mr. Naidu was answering a question about the different views expressed by senior leaders like E. Dayakar Rao, Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and Kodela Sivaprasada Rao. He said a distinction should be made between opinions expressed by individuals and the party’s official line announced by the designated spokespersons.

The TDP leader’s observations came on the eve of the third meeting of the party’s core committee on Telangana to be held at Ieeja in Mahabubnagar district. Asked whether an announcement could be expected after the core committee’s meeting, he said, “It is only the third meeting. We will hold as many meetings as necessary and announce our decision by the year-end that is well ahead of the elections.”

Mr. Yerran Naidu said the fact that the committee had met twice indicated the TDP’s seriousness on the Telangana issue. He lashed out at the Congress government for not fulfilling its pre-poll promise on Telangana. Instead of introducing a Bill on Telangana, the ruling party was trying to gain time in the name of the UPA sub-committee.