TGV fears State's bifurcation if Congress loses by-polls

Minor Irrigation Minister T G Venkatesh on Monday reiterated that the State would break into pieces if the people do not vote in favour of the Congress party in the ensuing by-elections.

Talking to media persons at the Congress Legislature Party office, Venkatesh said that he would stand by his statement and appealed to the voters to exercise their franchise cautiously in the by-elections to be held on Tuesday.

Responding to the statement of Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal that a Samaikyandhra resolution would be moved in the Legislative Assembly if the Congress party wins all the 18 assembly constituencies in the ensuing by-elections, he said he do not agree with Rajagopal's opinion. However, he said it could be Rajagopal's personal opinion and not of the Congress party.

Venkatesh also claimed that the Congress leaders from the Telangana were not in favour of statehood for the region and instead, they want the development process to continue. He said that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has already scrapped clause 14 F and measures have been taken for the effective implementation of GO 610.  He said these moves were taken with the primary aim of keeping the State united.