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Jagan Reddy seeks Mamata support to defeat Telangana bill

Last Updated 20 November 2013, 20:11 IST

Fuelling speculation of a possible alliance for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, YSR Congress leader Jaganmohan Reddy and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee met here on Wednesday. 

Though what transpired between the leaders at the close-door meeting remains unknown, the duo was candid about their opposition to bifurcate their respective states. 

Reddy said after the meeting that he had asked Mamata’s support against the Telangana bill that is likely to come up in Parliament during the winter session. The TMC leader and West Bengal chief minister asked her party MPs to oppose the bill in Parliament and demand its withdrawal. Both Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal are divided over bifurcation of their states to create the new entities of Telangana and Gorkaland respectively. Terming the Centre’s move to divide Andhra Pradesh “unacceptable”, Jagan, who spoke to reporters after meeting Mamata at the state secretariat, said: “We’ve sought her help in Parliament to prevent the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. We’re thankful to Didi for understanding and supporting the cause of a United Andhra.”

Despite assurances that the leaders would help each other, Jagan said: “We’re not for Third Front or Secular Front; we’re for a United India Front”. Jagan, continuing his tirade against the Centre’s decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh, said, “Whatever the Centre is doing is unacceptable and the Bill should be withdrawn. Before taking such a decision, the consent should have been taken from the state’s Assembly. It also requires two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament. We’re against bifurcation of any state in this way. They can't divide any state at their whims and fancies.”

While he demanded that Article 3 of the Constitution, which adheres to the formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing states, should be amended, Mamata told reporters after the meeting that she supported the stand of the YSR Congress founder against separate statehood to Telengana. “The public should have been consulted and other options should have been explored,” she said. 

The West Bengal chief minister said she had always shared a warm relationship with Jagan’s family and his father and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. 

On a possible tie-up between the parties alive, Mamata said: “Jagan and his mother are in touch with us. We will extend solidarity and full support to them.”

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(Published 20 November 2013, 20:11 IST)

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