Wary of backlash,UPA not in favour of Telangana

The UPA leadership is apprehensive of a backlash in Rayalseema and coastal Andhra regions if the state is bifurcated. Besides,the ruling dispensation does not want to open a Pandoras Box as creation of a separate state could re-ignite similar demands in many other states.

Official sources told The Indian Express that the Congress is inclined to empower the Telangana region to address public grievances but is against the creation of a separate state.

The Srikrishna Committee,in its report submitted on December 30 last year,recommended that a united Andhra Pradesh with a proviso for empowering the region,excluding Hyderabad,through a statutory Telangana Regional Council may be the best way forward. Creation of a separate state was the second best option,it had said.

Sources ruled out the possibility of the Centre giving in to pressure from the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) this time even if KCR goes on fast-unto-death once again.

KCR can be tackled but it will be difficult to contain the backlash in other regions if Telangana is created, said a source. According to Congress sources,Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan has told the Centre that if it goes for the united Andhra option,there could be violence in 45 Assembly constituencies,which could be tackled; but if the state is bifurcated,it could result in unrest and even violence in 175 Assembly constituencies.

The Congress leadership claims that statehood is not a perfect answer given how the three states,created during the NDA regime,have witnessed either political instability (Jharkhand) or law and order problems (Chhattisgarh). The only exception here could be Uttarakhand but,Congress sources claim,it is heavily dependent on Centres incentives.

Moreover,these sources said,saying yes to Telangana could re-ignite the agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland at a time when West Bengal is bracing for Assembly polls. And have an adverse bearing on Rahul Gandhis Mission 2012 in Uttar Pradesh,where Ajit Singh wants Harit Pradesh,Amar Singh is campaigning for Poorvanchal and Congress for a Bundelkhand state.

With Chief Minister Mayawati having already taken the lead by writing to the Prime Minister to seek his clearance for the creation of Harit Pradesh and Bundelkhand states,the Congress would be on the mat in UP if a separate state of Telangana is created.

With PMKs S Ramadoss recently reviving the demand for bifurcation of Tamil Nadu,DMK chief M Karunanidhi may also not be well-disposed to the idea of Telangana,especially in an election year; the same goes for the recently appointed Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan who would not like any addition demand for Vidarbha to his already cluttered desk.

Meanwhile,the Congress leadership has been trying to distance its flock of Telangana MPs and MLAs from the TRS chief. In the ruling partys assessment,any agitation launched by KCR may will fizzle out in the absence of support from Congress MLAs and MPs.