The uncertainty over Telangana is likely to cost the second lap of the Winter session, beginning Wednesday. All stakeholders, including the TDP, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and the YSR Congress, are camping here for hectic lobbying on the controversial subject, while the BJP has adopted a wait-and-watch approach.
Within the Congress, both the sides — those who demand the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and those who oppose it — are active, with the anti-Telangana MPs threatening to obstruct the tabling of the Bill.
Meanwhile, the Group of Ministers (GoM) on the issue has cleared the Bill and the Cabinet is likely to discuss it soon. “We are confident the Bill will be passed in this session. The date for discussion could be decided by next Tuesday,” said a senior Congress leader. In the all-party party meeting, too, the issue came up for discussion. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh expressed hope Parliament will transact the essential business during the session.
“And, of course, there is the vital issue of Telangana. We will be bringing a Bill in Parliament for its approval and I sincerely hope that after a long debate extending over many years, the House will, in its wisdom, be able to transact the business and pass the Bill relating to the creation of the state of Telangana,” he said.
The Opposition had questioned the Government’s stand on the issue. It accused the Government of trying to scuttle the session by bringing the Telangana Bill, a controversial subject.
In the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath sought the “genuine” support of all parties to pass the Bill.
Opposition leader Sushma Swaraj, however, said it was the Congress MPs who disrupted the proceedings in the last two sessions. She urged the ruling party to put its own house in order first.
“Congress should not give sermons to the Opposition on disruptions in Parliament when their party leaders are supporting as well as opposing Telangana,” she said. On the issue of Telangana, the Congress is playing the politics of both support and opposition, she remarked.
Ideal for party A section of the Congress believes that delaying the passage of the Bill will be ideal for the party in Andhra Pradesh. This section thinks that if the Bill gets passed, the Congress will split further in the State. On the other hand, if the Bill is not passed, it can blame it on the Opposition and face the election in a united manner.
“The Congress wants to create problems and draw some political mileage. This was their idea. So, I condemn the attitude of the Congress party,” said TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu. YSRCP leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy said his party will oppose the Bill.