Jagan joins TDP MPs for a 'united AP'

UPA allies express reservation over separate Telangana; pro-state MPs demand action against YSR son

The UPA partners conveyed their reservations at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) during the day. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who chaired the meeting, briefed the representatives of coalition parties on the Telangana issue and the situation arising out of that in Andhra Pradesh.

The cabinet panel meeting was attended by NCP leader Sharad Pawar, TMC leader Mamata Banerjee, and DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran, besides Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram and S M Krishna. The meeting advised the state government to evolve a consensus on the Telangana issue and appealed to the people and political parties in the state to maintain peace and harmony.

A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s media adviser said the meeting was briefed by the PM on the decision taken on Telangana and the background to the announcement.

In the morning, the Congress leadership watched as its MPs, led by Jaganmohan Reddy, made common cause with opposition TDP members to defend unity of Andhra Pradesh. This prompted pro-Telangana Congress MPs to demand action against Reddy, the son of the late chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who had also made a bid for chief ministership. The fault line in the Congress on the Telangana issue led to a brief adjournment of the Lok Sabha.

The pro-Telangana Congress MPs accused Jagan of “colluding” with the TDP. A delegation of pro-Telangana party MPs later impressed upon Defence Minister A K Antony, who is also chairman of the Congress disciplinary committee, to initiate disciplinary action against Jagan.

“Jaganmohan violated the party discipline, even colluding with the TDP MPs who are led by opportunist leader Chandrababu Naidu. We demanded action against Jagan,” said Madhu Goud Yaskhi, one of the pro-Telangana party MP. He alleged that Jagan was using the Telangana issue to bring down the Congress government in the state. “He (Jagan) is not happy with the party high command for not making him the CM after YSR's death,” Yaskhi alleged.