Telangana MPs set deadline to quit if demands are not met

Separate meetings of Congress general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad with Congress members of Parliament from Telangana and Andhra-Rayala Seema regions of Andhra Pradesh in New Delhi yesterday has only accentuated the already clear division between the two groups.

While the purpose of the meeting was not clear, both groups further stressed their known positions in support and opposition to Telangana state.

This was the first meeting with MPs from Andhra Pradesh by Azad after he took charge from Veerappa Moily as the party general secretary in-charge of the state affairs.

What should set the alarm bells ringing in Congress is that during their meeting with Azad, the Telangana members of Parliament have set a deadline of June 1 to announce the Telangana state failing which they will resign both from the Parliament and any position in the party.

They told Azad that they will continue only as ordinary members of the Congress party.

The MPs, both from Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha — handed over two letters to Azad detailing the present political situation in the state and the problems they were facing in their own constituencies because of the lack of clarity in Congress stand.