Kiran Reddy for voting on Telangana Bill soon

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy is  firm about ensuring that a resolution is passed in the state Assembly and Council against the creation of Telangana state, when the session recommences from January 3, 2014. 

There is speculation he may quit his post once the Legislature session closes by January 23, after the Telangana debate.

Kiran for voting on T Bill soon

Sources close to Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy say that before he resigns he wants to ensure that a symbolic resolution is passed seeking the Centre’s intervention to keep the state united. This will make it clear to the nation that the Centre is proceeding with the formation of Telangana state much against the majority wish of the elected representatives of the state.

After returning from Delhi, the Chief Minister contacted some of his confidants and instructed them to move such a resolution in accordance with the rules. He also told them to move as many amendments as they could to the various clauses in the Telangana Bill, and insist on voting so that it will be proved that a majority of the members are opposing various provisions.

The Chief Minister has reportedly been advised by legal pundits that if some amendments are moved and an appropriate resolution against Telangana is passed, these will be useful as evidences should the matter reach the higher courts.

The Chief Minister reportedly cited one such resolution by the Bihar Assembly against the formation of Vananchal State (Jharkhand) proposed by the then United Front government, in 1998. It was agreed to by the Bihar Assembly later only after arriving at a consensus among all political parties. But, still, several amendments were proposed and voting took place on each clause in the Re-Organisation Bill sent to both Bihar and UP by the President.

The Chief Minister also reportedly remarked that when he earlier said that voting has to take place on various clauses of the Bill, several leaders took it lightly and even ridiculed his claim, but now it is established that even during Speaker Nadendla Manohar’s visit to Patna and Lucknow,  those states had also moved amendments and decided on voting.

One thing is very clear from the Chief Minister’s latest move: the forthcoming Assembly session is going to be a stormy one. 

Pro-Telangana legislators will place every obstacle in the way of Seema-andhra legislators moving a resolution to the draft bill. They will insist that any amendment must be moved and voted on only in Parliament, and whatever amendments are passed in the State Legislature will not have any standing.

After keeping mum for sometime, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has once again raised voice against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to form a separate Telangana. He cautioned millions of farmers in Seemandhra and Telangana regions of the serious consequences of division of the state. According to him, the bifurcation was done without addressing key issues of water, power and infrastructure, which could lead to deficit and bigger problems. He fears the lapses in water distribution would erupt.In Andhra Pradesh, the dams located in one region serve the needs of other region. For example, Srisailam dam is located in Rayalaseema, but it serves the irrigation needs of Rayalaseema, Telangana and Andhra regions. So, Kiran is worried as how can that waters be shared. Telangana comprises 68 pc of the catchment area of the Krishna river and 79 pc catchment area of Godavari river. Utilising these resources for the development of the region will be a big challenge for the state.Andhra Pradesh's major rivers include Godavari, Krishna and Pennar. According to the Krishna tribunal award, Maharashtra gets 560 tmc feet of water, Karnataka 700 TMC and Andhra Pradesh 811 TMC. The Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar dams are central to the Krishna river in Andhra Pradesh. (1 TMC equals 28.3 billion litres).The Nagarjunasagar dam is right on the border of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and caters to the irrigation needs of Andhra and Telangana. Kiran feels the new state would badly hit irrigation projects.Godavari is less exploited as compared with Krishna and most of the water flows into the Bay of Bengal. The Godavari Waters Disputes Tribunal in 1975 awarded 1,480 TMC to Andhra Pradesh, but proponents of separate Telangana are demanding more than 60 pc of that water share.As for agriculture is concerned, Seemandhra regions are better irrigated and account for 60 pc of total crops cultivated in Andhra Pradesh. Telangana has over 65 pc agriculture pumpsets. But with Telangana expected to face at least 40-50 pc power shortage, the irrigation projects will be affected.Currently in Andhra Pradesh, the power generation is only 57 million units per day against a demand of 115 MU. Though Telangana boasts of major coal deposits, Seemandhra has more gas-based stations with higher installed capacity of power. The Ramagundam thermal power station is in Telangana but is controlled by the Centre.Kiran accused TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao of misleading farmers with a promise to bring 10,000 MW from Chhattisgarh since the installed capacity of the neighbouring state was only 6300 MW.Before bifurcating the state, the Centre, Kiran feels, must have clarity on the status of Hyderabad, which several people from Seemandhra made their home after the formation of AP decades ago.Even as APNGO members are protesting against shifting of the secretariat employees to Seemandhra, Kiran rejected the TRS statistics and said out of 18,856 employees identified as non-locals under GO 610, 9,174 were repatriated and 4,062 were exempted as per the rules.As the capital of united AP for nearly 60 years, Hyderabad city has witnessed enormous growth and transformed into a large metropolis. In the process, many other regions of the State have been neglected. People from Andhra and Rayalaseema are heavily dependent on Hyderabad for health facilities, education and employment opportunities.

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Kiran Kumar Reddy's absence raises doubts

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy’s absence at the Congress foundation function held at Gandhi Bhavan on Saturday gave rise to speculations that he was about to launch his own party.

The function was attended by PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana, MP V. Hanumantha Rao, ministers K. Jana Reddy, Ponnala Laxmaiah, Kasu Venkata Krishna Reddy, Danam Nagendar and others.

After garlanding the statue of former minister P. Janardhan Reddy on the occasion of his death anniversary, the CM left for a book release function.

Some Congress leaders said that the CM was deliberately staying away from party functions. Recently he was also absent for late prime minister Indira Gandhi’s birth anniversary celebrations at Gandhi Bhavan.

Party sources said that Kiran’s absence at such functions was an indication that he was about to launch his own political party.

However, other leaders said that the CM would remain in the Congress and had no plans of launching a party. They alleged that a few leaders close to Kiran were spreading these rumours.

Recalling an earlier incident at Gandhi Bhavan wherein some Telangana Congress leaders had openly criticised PCC president Satyanarayana, the leaders said that the CM was staying away to avoid such incidents. If he wanted to launch his own party, why would he go to Delhi to attend the Congress Chief Ministers’ conference recently? they questioned.

A few party leaders, meanwhile, were visibly upset with the CM for missing the function. Hanumantha Rao directly and Satyanarayana indirectly criticised the CM for his absence.

Speaking to media, Rao said that it was painful to him that the CM was missing. He said that while AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi had called to fight against corruption, the CM was busy signing files. He asked Kiran Kumar Reddy to emulate Gandhi.

Satyanarayana, in his speech, said that everyone in the party must remember that they were in their current positions because of the party.

Next: CM says MLAs behave like ward members

Though vocal about his opposition to the Centre's decision on Telangana, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy made best efforts to mask his plans to move out of the Congress. But he couldn't defy the spying eyes of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), which has said that Kiran does have plans to launch a new political party. The IB report submitted to the Centre states that Reddy would resign after opposing the Telengana Bill in the Assembly or after Parliament approval. Reddy, who has been openly supporting United AP, has been a stumbling block for the Congress, which is firm on Telangana, notwithstanding the opposition in Seemandhra region.The IB says that though Reddy is under pressure to form a new party right away, he is expected to wait for the right opportunity. His open defiance is an indication of his ultimate aim to become the champion of the cause of United AP. From where Reddy draws his confidence to form a new party is the support he enjoys from 45 MLAs, 11 ministers and 10 MPs, who have been insisting on sending the Telangana Bill to Assembly for clearance. Reddy group's plan is to put the Bill for voting in the Assembly and get it defeated.Reddy had been hinting at a new party for long as he hired agencies to conduct a survey in the Seemandhra region to determine which way the political wind is blowing and about the possibilities of a new political party. In the questionnaire, respondents were asked if there is a need for a new political party in the wake of the state’s division.People were also asked whether Reddy should continue in the Congress after the division and if he launches a new party, will he be able to win in the next elections. That apart, the survey also asked whether Reddy should launch a new political party with the slogan of a united state and whether they think he is acting according to the Congress high command’s wishes.The Congress high command, which is upset with Reddy over his anti-Telangana overtures, has been treading cautiously. What has worsened the battle is his letter to the President and the Prime Minister, questioning the basis on which the Congress Working Committee decided to divide the state.Kiran's rebellion has irked the Telangana Congress leaders, who are demanding his dismissal. Understandably, both Kiran and Congress are aware of the consequences of his dismissal at this time of forming a new state. Meanwhile many names are doing rounds as Reddy's successor. IB has suggested five possible successors to Kiran Kumar Reddy in its report, which include Union minister Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy, state ministers Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Botsa Satyanarayana, N. Raghuveera Reddy and Kanna Laxminarayana.Not just Kiran Reddy's hostility, but there have been several aspects within the Congress that are delaying the Telangana process. A conflict is evident between the Centre and Congress.AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh said that the bifurcation issue will be referred to the Assembly twice. But Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said only the Telangana Bill (not the bifurcation resolution) would be debated in the Assembly.Even as Group of Ministers is to hear political concerns over the new state, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said that a Bill on Telangana will be prepared before the tenure of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government ends. However, he sounded doubtful that the Bill will be introduced in the winter Session starting in December.Meanwhile, Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi summoning minister Kanna Laxminarayana has sparked off speculations of reshuffle in the Pradesh Congress Committee. Kanna is said to be the high command choice to head the PCC for Seemandhra region and the search is on for a person for Telangana PCC. With that Congress may be strategising to keep out Botsa Narayana, current PCC chief. Congress party official spokesperson from AP, N Tulasi Reddy has voiced his concerns saying, it would be difficult for the central government to overlook the old conventions adopted by previous governments and to bypass constitutional procedures while forming the new state. He feels the government might agree for united Andhra.Days after the A.K. Antony Committee submitted its report, Telangana Congress leaders have decided to oppose the report on Hyderabad city and Bhadrachalam division. They want both the regions to be under Telangana. Hyderabad has been the bone of contention. They said that the Hyderabad revenue district should be made the joint capital, and not the GHMC limits as proposed. The leaders also asked Deputy CM Damodar Raja Narasimha to look into aspects of sharing Hyderabad’s revenue by both states after the division. Minister Jaipal Reddy says that the leaders would be happy if the Telangana state was formed, but they would protest if more obligations were imposed on them keeping Hyderabad as a joint capital for 10 years.

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Telangana is no cup of joy, Kiran Reddy tells Rahul Gandhi

Hyderabad: On Friday, Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states and other AICC leaders seemed surprised when Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy urged AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi not to go ahead with the state bifurcation as it would spell disaster for the party in the upcoming general elections.

Reddy also informed the Congress vice-president that public attendance in the thanksgiving meetings that were being organised in Telangana to honour AICC president Sonia Gandhi were also poor. That, coupled with the Narendra Modi wave and the TRS stealing the Congress’ thunder regarding bifurcation, meant that the party could not be sure of securing maximum seats even in Telangana.

Gandhi had convened the party Chief Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi on Friday to ask them to give more impetus to the drive ag-ainst corruption, take up more pro-poor schemes, and to effecti-vely execute the welfare projects taken up by the UPA-II government.

He also wanted to know the ground-level political situations in the respective states, including possibilities of tie-ups with like-minded parties.
Reddy had exclusive talks with Gandhi on the sidelines of the meeting and urged him to reverse the Tela-ngana decision so that he could ensure a respectable number of seats for the Congress in the state upcoming polls.

T meet turnouts poor, says Kiran

Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy said that even the thanksgiving meetings organised by Telangana Congress leaders did not go off well in as the turnouts for the meetings had been poor.

He did not seek an appointment with Congress president Sonia Gandhi this time too. He has not met the party chief since July 12 meeting of the Congress Core Committee, when he had made his presentation for the united AP cause.

Sources said that when Mr Reddy’s turn came to speak in the meeting, he said that with the recent decision by the Centre to carve out Telangana, the political situation in the state had completely changed and there was no guarantee that the Congress would have a respectable showing in the coming elections owing to the bifurcation.

According to him, the Congress would not repeat its 2009 performance in Telangana (50 Assembly and 12 Lok Sabha seats), let alone the landslide win that the party high command was expecting for granting T state.

He reportedly observed that despite his repeated requests to keep the state united, the high command had acted in haste and decided to divide AP. He said that despite his government introducing several schemes, which had significantly decreased the anti-incumbency factor, the bifurcation decision had made matters worse.

He reported that TRS men were claiming credit for creation of Telangana.

He also reportedly informed that the Narendra Modi factor and TRS activists taking credit for the Telangana state were also impacting the Telangana voter.

Mr Reddy informed the leaders that there was widespread resentment in Seemandhra over the bifurcation decision, otherwise things would have been entirely different in the upcoming elections.
Regarding taking up pro-poor measures, particularly the food security scheme, Mr Reddy informed that the AP government had been supplying food grains at Rs 1 per kg. He also distributed a booklet containing various programmes and schemes in this regard.

After keeping mum for sometime, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has once again raised voice against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to form a separate Telangana. He cautioned millions of farmers in Seemandhra and Telangana regions of the serious consequences of division of the state. According to him, the bifurcation was done without addressing key issues of water, power and infrastructure, which could lead to deficit and bigger problems. He fears the lapses in water distribution would erupt.In Andhra Pradesh, the dams located in one region serve the needs of other region. For example, Srisailam dam is located in Rayalaseema, but it serves the irrigation needs of Rayalaseema, Telangana and Andhra regions. So, Kiran is worried as how can that waters be shared. Telangana comprises 68 pc of the catchment area of the Krishna river and 79 pc catchment area of Godavari river. Utilising these resources for the development of the region will be a big challenge for the state.Andhra Pradesh's major rivers include Godavari, Krishna and Pennar. According to the Krishna tribunal award, Maharashtra gets 560 tmc feet of water, Karnataka 700 TMC and Andhra Pradesh 811 TMC. The Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar dams are central to the Krishna river in Andhra Pradesh. (1 TMC equals 28.3 billion litres).The Nagarjunasagar dam is right on the border of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and caters to the irrigation needs of Andhra and Telangana. Kiran feels the new state would badly hit irrigation projects.Godavari is less exploited as compared with Krishna and most of the water flows into the Bay of Bengal. The Godavari Waters Disputes Tribunal in 1975 awarded 1,480 TMC to Andhra Pradesh, but proponents of separate Telangana are demanding more than 60 pc of that water share.As for agriculture is concerned, Seemandhra regions are better irrigated and account for 60 pc of total crops cultivated in Andhra Pradesh. Telangana has over 65 pc agriculture pumpsets. But with Telangana expected to face at least 40-50 pc power shortage, the irrigation projects will be affected.Currently in Andhra Pradesh, the power generation is only 57 million units per day against a demand of 115 MU. Though Telangana boasts of major coal deposits, Seemandhra has more gas-based stations with higher installed capacity of power. The Ramagundam thermal power station is in Telangana but is controlled by the Centre.Kiran accused TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao of misleading farmers with a promise to bring 10,000 MW from Chhattisgarh since the installed capacity of the neighbouring state was only 6300 MW.Before bifurcating the state, the Centre, Kiran feels, must have clarity on the status of Hyderabad, which several people from Seemandhra made their home after the formation of AP decades ago.Even as APNGO members are protesting against shifting of the secretariat employees to Seemandhra, Kiran rejected the TRS statistics and said out of 18,856 employees identified as non-locals under GO 610, 9,174 were repatriated and 4,062 were exempted as per the rules.As the capital of united AP for nearly 60 years, Hyderabad city has witnessed enormous growth and transformed into a large metropolis. In the process, many other regions of the State have been neglected. People from Andhra and Rayalaseema are heavily dependent on Hyderabad for health facilities, education and employment opportunities.

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