11 Cong MPs not to take back resignations

New Delhi, Jan 1: Eleven Congress MPs from the Telangana region have indicated  that they would not withdraw their resignation papers before they attend the all-party meeting, convened by the Centre on January 5, in New Delhi.The Congress MPs from Andhra Pradesh think that they will wait for the decision of the all-party meeting on Jan 5 and decide the next course of action. Till then the decision to quit will be kept on hold.

 Anantapur MP A Venkatarami Reddy’s request to Union Law Minister and Congress general secretary in charge of the State, M. Veerappa Moily to convene the Pradesh Congress Committee meet to discuss the Telangana issue and to take a common stand for the all-party meeting came in for flak.Meanwhile, Home Minister P Chidambaram urged eight political parties to nominate only two persons each for the January 5 meeting which would discuss the mechanism and lay down a road map for the consultations.

The ministers resigned after Chidambaram's announcement on Dec 23 putting the Telangana issue on the backburner saying he would initiate wide ranging discussions on the issue. Earlier on Dec 9 he had announced that the process for Telangana state would be initiated.The all-party JAC, formed to spearhead the separate Telangana agitation, and the TRS decided to attend the January 5 meeting of political parties to discuss the separate statehood issue.