AICC general secretary in charge of AP affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday assured Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao that the UPA will take up the issue of Telangana only after completion of the impending Union Cabinet reshuffle. Mr Azad gave this assurance to Mr Chandrasekhar Rao during their meeting on the Telangana issue that lasted over 2 hours.
The TRS chief pressed for the announcement of a road map for the formation of Telangana during the meeting, described as cordial and satisfactory by TRS sources. Sources said Mr Azad reportedly briefed Mr Chandrasekhar Rao on the problems being faced by the UPA, which have even forced postponement of the Union Cabinet reshuffle.
He pointed out to the TRS chief that the Congress central leadership also needs to talk to party leaders from Seemandhra region also and convince them on the Telangana statehood issue. Mr Chandrasekhar Rao is understood to have suggested to Mr Azad that it would be better if consultations with other leaders were taken up before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh undertakes the reshuffle so that a decision on Telangana could be announced immediately after that.
TRS sources said both Mr Azad and Union minister Vayalar Ravi would start consultations with concerned leaders from the first week of October. The source also said Mr Chandrasekhar Rao, who has been staying in Delhi from September 5, may return to the state after two days. He may go again to Delhi in mid-October.