Seemandhra MPs, Rosaiah summoned to Delhi on Jan 20 to discuss SKC Report

Former chief minister K Rosaiah is the surprise inclusion at a crucial meeting of MPs from Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions convened by the Congress High Command to discuss the separate Telangana statehood issue on January 20 in New Delhi.

The meeting is expected to be chaired by party Core Committee member and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

The meeting comes barely days before the crucial all-party meeting, tentatively scheduled to be held on January 23 or 24 to discuss the leaders’ opinion on the recommendations of Justice Srikrishna Committee Report and possibly arrive at a consensus before the Budget Session of Parliament commences.

The Seemandhra MPs are expected to be told by Mr Mukherjee to clarify their stand on the recommendations of Justice Srikrishna Commission report at the January 20 meeting, according to sources.

Political watchers say that the inclusion of Mr Rosaiah at the meeting may be surprising, but not unexpected considering his immense experience and sagacity.

Earlier on January 6, the Communist Part of India, Communist Party (Marxist) and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leaders demanded the Centre make its stand clear on Telangana statehood issue at the all-party meeting then.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has made it clear that it would extend support to the 5th option recommended in the Report, bifurcation of the State into Telangana and Seemandhra as per existing boundaries with Hyderabad as the capital of Telangana and Seemandhra to have a new capital.

However, sources say that Union Home Minister P Chidambaram favours the 6th option recommended. The sixth option is Keeping the State united by simultaneously providing certain definite Constitutional/Statutory measures for socio-economic development and political empowerment of Telangana region - creation of a statutorily empowered Telangana Regional Council.