HYDERABAD: The Congress is finally expected to make clear its position on the contentious Telangana statehood demand at its upcoming “Chintan Shibir” at Mount Abu during the first/second week of June.The party leadership has come to the conclusion that its silence on the issue, since the December 9, 2009, statement in favour of a Telangana state and subsequent retraction, is doing it no good with leaders in both Telangana and Coastal-Rayalaseema at a loss to find out what the future holds for them.“Take a decision without further delay,” was the crux of the message conveyed by AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad after his visit to Hyderabad in the second week of May during which he elicited opinion from the rank and file.Besides, the Congress gave an undertaking, though unwritten, to its own MPs during the budget session of Parliament that it will formulate its position after the conclusion of elections in various states. Basing on that promise, even the TRS suspended its agitation and set May 31 as the deadline to the Congress.Given the wider ramifications any decision on Telangana would have, the party is reportedly of the view that it would be better to discuss it on a bigger platform. The Chintan Shibir will be attended by all Congress chief ministers, leaders of opposition, presidents of all PCCs, apart from top leaders including members of the CWC. Thus, it would enable the leadership elicit opinion of leaders from different states considering that demands for smaller states exist in many places.According to sources, a middle path is what the party is likely to strike, at least for the time being.The Sri Krishna Committee has not really recommended the way forward and merely suggested various options though the essence of it was in favour of keeping the state united.The Congress is more than aware that a decision in favour of or against the creation of Telangana would entail political consequences in the form of loss of leaders, particularly with YS Jagan Mohan Reddy waiting in the wings to strike at an opportune time.If the resolution passed by the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee recently is any pointer, constituting an SRC or a parliamentary panel is an option that is definitely on the table. Simultaneous declaration of a package for Telangana which would include a regional council and special funds for some big projects is also not being ruled out. But, will that mollify the Congress leaders from Telangana is the moot question. The party leadership seems to believe that there could be stiff opposition from a few MPs and expects a majority of legislators to fall in line.
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