Decision on Telangana likely in a fortnight

NEW DELHI:  Under pressure from Telangana MPs and MLAs with en masse resignations, the Centre is likely to take a view on the issue in a fortnight.According to sources, immediately after the Cabinet reshuffle, the Centre would focus on Telangana issue. “There should be a solution or a solution which would lead to a possible solution,” said senior Congress leader. “The Government and Congress high command cannot afford to drag their feet any more longer on this issue,” the leader said. The sources said that not only Telangana, the unrest was spreading to other regions of Andhra Pradesh.The Congress high command would begin the process of consultations with the party’s elected representations from the regions other than Telangana in Andhra Pradesh in a few days. It had already had four rounds of discussions with party leaders from Telangana region.Pointing out the options before the Centre, the sources said the Government could declare ‘in principle’ intent to create a separate Telangana state and seek time to build political consensus, or the Government could straight away take measures to carve out Telangana state keeping contentious Hyderabad out.Setting up a second States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) or to carve a state within the state to form Telangana under  Article 244(A) of the Indian Constitution that would provide a local legislature and Council of Ministers with legislative, administrative, executive and financial powers over certain number of policy areas are among other options.The sources said Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has to take a holistic view on the resignations submitted by the MPs from the Telangana region since it was unprecedented. “One may resign if he revolts against the party of if he could not deliver as Member of Parliament. These resignations would not come under these two categories. These resignation are triggered by a peculiar situation,” said a senior functionary in AICC.Meanwhile, the BJP alleged that the Congress was dillydallying on the resignations of the MLAs and MPs.