Date:22/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/22/stories/2008102261350600.htm

New Delhi

Advani promised Bill on Telangana: Goud

Special Correspondent

T. Devender Goud

NEW DELHI: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani has assured that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance would introduce a Bill for the creation of a separate Telangana state from the existing Andhra Pradesh immediately after assuming power in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Nava Telangana Praja Party (NTPP) president T. Devender Goud, told The Hindu here on Tuesday, after meeting Mr. Advani, that the BJP was very much supportive of a separate State. Similarly, NDA convenor and senior JD(U) leader George Fernandes and Rashtriya Lok Dal president Ajit Singh too said they were agreeable for Telangana.

Mr. Goud replied in the negative when asked whether BJP-NTPP electoral tie-up for the coming Assembly/Lok Sabha polls in Andhra Pradesh were discussed with Mr. Advani. Mr. Devender Goud, a former Minister in the Telugu Desam government , quit the party and floated NTPP a few months ago following differences with TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu . The main purpose of his Delhi visit was to make the Centre introduce the Bill before poll and mobilise support for it among the political parties.

Meanwhile, Telangana Intellectuals Forum (TIF), a non-political organisation, has sought early introduction of the Bill on Telangana in Parliament. Its president P.L. Vishweshwar Rao also wanted the Assembly to immediately pass a resolution urging the Centre to create Telangana.