New Delhi/Hyderabad:

It's D-Day for Telangana as UPA allies are likely to discuss the Congress Core Group's proposal to create a separate state. The Congress Working Committee is set to meet after that meeting at 5.30 on Tuesday evening where the proposal is likely to be discussed.

The CWC is then likely to pass a resolution, which may endorse creating a separate state of Telangana. The CWC resolution may address other demands for separate states and is likely to suggest setting of a state reorganisation committee.

Allies are expected to agree with the government's proposal. Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde is likely to explain the security repercussions of the proposal.

Amidst all the politics, security remains the top priority. An additional 1,000 paramilitary personnel have been sent to Andhra Pradesh by the Union Home Ministry to deal with any situation arising out of a decision on Telangana.

The additional forces, along with the existing 1,200 paramilitary personnel, are expected to be deployed in Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema regions, where protests may erupt if the Centre takes a decision in favour of bifurcating Andhra Pradesh for the creation of Telangana state.

Sources said apart from the central forces, 200 personnel of the Karnataka Armed Police and 100 personnel of Tamil Nadu Armed Police are stationed in Hyderabad and its adjoining areas.

As the Congress puts Telangana on fast forward mode, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has denied reports that he is quitting. He, however, did tell CNN-IBN that he will meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi ahead of the crucial CWC meet to express his reservations on Telangana. He is expected to reach Delhi by Tuesday noon.

In 2001, the CWC had passed a resolution asking for the creation of a state's reorganising committee to pave way for the creation of a smaller states, one of them being Telangana.

The Congress is caught in a bind as many Andhra leaders are opposing Telangana. Kiran Kumar Reddy, too, is reportedly opposed to the decision saying the bifurcation will cause water and power problems for the new state which will have an area of 1.14 lakh sq km and a population of 3.52 crore according to the 2011 census which is 41 per cent of Andhra Pradesh.

With the top Congress leadership appearing to have veered towards creation of Telangana, Congress MPs from the rest of Andhra Pradesh, too, have opposed any division of the state while a party MP from Telangana region had said that the government should go ahead with the decision.

Congress leader from Telangana V Hanumantha Rao demanded that the new state should be created immediately. "They are repeating the same things. There is no movement in Andhra. Our leadership is very strong. It is an oldest issue. Our leader is Sonia Gandhi. Telangana people want a separate Telangana. No one can question the high command. Our first interest is Telangana. The high command may take any action as today most of the parties are supporting Telangana," he said.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) too has demanded that the new state be created immediately while leaders of Seemandhra region of Andhra Pradesh are unwilling to give up the state capital Hyderabad.

Even as the Congress seems to be split wide open over granting Telangana by dividing Andhra Pradesh, BJP leaders have claimed that the party will form the separate state of Telangana within 24 hours of coming to power.

The issue first came out in the open in 1960s after students of Osmania University in Hyderabad protested discrimination against people from Telangana. Since then the demand of the separate statehood has been raised by the people and political parties of Telangana region continuously.

The Telangana Tangle:

Pro-Telangana:

TRS

BJP

CPI

Anti-Telangana:

CPI(M)

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM)

Undecided:

Congress

Telugu Desam Party

YSR Congress

source:http://ibnlive.in.com/news/

New Delhi: 11:37 am: Andhra Congress leaders to meet Rahul Gandhi at 12.30 pm to discuss Telangana. Meanwhile, Human and Resource Development Minister Pallam Raju after meeting Digvijaya Singh said that any decision on Telangana will have long term implications in Andhra Pradesh.

11:08 am: Seemandhra leaders met Congress senior leader Digvijaya Singh. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has left for New Delhi to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi to express his reservation over Telangana.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said that the BJP's stand is clear on the Telangana issue. "We do not know what the Congress is doing as they have not taken us in loop. Our stand is clear, We Created 3 states when we were in power, there is no question of opposing it we are in favor of it. The Congress is delaying it from a long time. They should understand it is as a very sensitive issue, there party men are speaking in different voices."

On what is likely to be the D-Day for Telangana, efforts are on to delay the decision. Late on Monday night top Congress leaders met Andhra Pradesh MPs who are in favour of a united Andhra. The MPs are believed to have told Congress leaders that they will lose if Telengana is created.

They urged Congress to defer the decision. However, sources have told CNN-IBN that Congress has said that the decision is almost taken.

Meanwhile, Andhra Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has denied reports that he is quitting. He will be in the capital on Tuesday to meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi to express his reservations on Telangana.

But Andhra Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Raja has expressed confidence that everything will be finalised on Tuesday and has said that Hyderabad will be Telangana's capital. "Everything will be settled today. We are 100 per cent positive that Telangana is going to be a reality and Hyderabad will be the capital. There are no apprehensions and no dispute at all," Raja said.

UPA allies are likely to discuss the Congress Core Group's proposal to create a separate state on Tuesday. The Congress Working Committee is set to meet after that meeting at 5.30 on Tuesday evening where the proposal is likely to be discussed.

The CWC is then likely to pass a resolution, which may endorse creating a separate state of Telangana. The CWC resolution may address other demands for separate states and is likely to suggest setting of a state reorganisation committee.

Allies are expected to agree with the government's proposal. Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde is likely to explain the security repercussions of the proposal.

Amidst all the politics, security remains the top priority. An additional 1,000 paramilitary personnel have been sent to Andhra Pradesh by the Union Home Ministry to deal with any situation arising out of a decision on Telangana.

The additional forces, along with the existing 1,200 paramilitary personnel, are expected to be deployed in Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema regions, where protests may erupt if the Centre takes a decision in favour of bifurcating Andhra Pradesh for the creation of Telangana state.

Sources said apart from the central forces, 200 personnel of the Karnataka Armed Police and 100 personnel of Tamil Nadu Armed Police are stationed in Hyderabad and its adjoining areas.

The Telangana Tangle:

Pro-Telangana:

TRS

BJP

CPI

Anti-Telangana:

CPI(M)

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM)

Undecided:

Congress

Telugu Desam Party

YSR Congress

source:ibnlive.in.com/politics/politics_news/

New Delhi:

Hyderabad is likely to be a joint capital of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for five years, according to sources. The Congress leadership had on Friday discussed the Telangana issue amid mounting speculation that the party may be veering round towards the creation of a separate state.

Sources also said that UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will take the final decision which is likely to be announced before the Monsoon Session of Parliament on August 5. The issue was discussed by the Congress core group meeting which was also attended by Union Defence Minister AK Antony, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

AICC General Secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, Digvijay Singh, said after the core group meeting, "The consultation process is over. Now await for the decision of the party as well as the UPA government."

Earlier, Sonia Gandhi had a brief meeting with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy. Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha and PCC Chief Botsa Satyanarayana had also attended the meeting.

The party is caught in a bind as Andhra leaders are opposing statehood. Many MLA's from the Congress as well YSR Congress had resigned and many more have threatened to do so.

After the meeting, there were indications that the Congress is certainly leaning towards the decision of the separate state of Telangana. However, the final decision will remain with the Congress Working Committee (CWC).

In 2001, the CWC had in fact passed a resolution asking for the creation of a state's reorganising committee to pave way for the creation of a smaller states, one of them being a separate state of Telangana.

source:http://ibnlive.in.com/news

Hyderabad:

Amidst heavy rains, the first phase of the Andhra Pradesh panchayat elections began on Tuesday. With the pitch for Telangana on a high note, the gram panchayat polls are a crucial test of strength for political parties ahead of the 2014 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

More than 20,000 panchayats will witness three-phase polling. Elected candidates backed by political parties could well spell the voters' mood in these panchayat elections that are taking place after seven long years.

While the TRS is pinning its hopes on its Telangana pitch, Jagan Reddy's YSR Congress is hoping the ongoing padyatra by his sister Sharmila and the fact that Jagan is still behind bars will help them garner enough votes.

But money power remains an issue with the state election commission saying panchayat seats have been auctioned for up to Rs 35 lakh each.

Security has been beefed up across the state and more than one lakh police personnel have been deployed to make sure the elections are conducted peacefully. Last few weeks have seen various political party leaders keeping a close eye on the panchayat poll campaigns.

source:http://ibnlive.in.com/news