TDP, CONGRESS IN ONE-UP-MANSHIP GAME

Though all the pro-Telangana parties have joined the joint action committee (JAC), the Congress and TDP appear to be in a game of one-upmanship to derive maximum credit for T-state. Both the parties seem to be making subtle moves in this direction. While cooperating with the JAC in holding agitations and rallies, both the parties are firming up own action plans and wants to woo other parties.

The TDP legislators met here on Monday and reviewed the deliberations that took place on Sunday at JAC. After a three-hour long meeting , the Telangana TDP legislators decided to meet assembly speaker N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday and demand that their resignations be accepted.  According to party leader N Janardhan Reddy, they would inform the chairman of JAC Prof Kondandaram about this decision and would ask him to request other members of JAC to join them.

The TDP wanted to take the lead on this issue to prove that the resignations submitted by 39 legislators was not a drama. The TDP also demanded that the MPs from the region submit their resignations to the Lok Sabha speaker to put pressure on the Congress high command to take steps for carving a separate state.  Reddy told the media that TDP would extend its full cooperation for the Telangana Mahagarjana , a massive rally to be organised by students of Osmania University on January 3. The party, he said, directed its rank and file in all the 10 districts to mobilise people for the Mahagarjana. It also decided to support the JAC bandh call on Wednesday. Replying to a question, Janardhan Reddy said that rallies, demonstrations and agitations were organised by the all-party JAC in the districts on Monday to mount pressure on the Centre for a separate statehood.

At another meeting, the Telangana students wing of the party announced that it would gherao ministers in districts and demand that they submit their resignations to the governor.

Meanwhile, the Congress legislators from Telangana met on Monday and felt that they too should work out an action plan. They are waiting for the return of the ministers who went to New Delhi to finalise their action plan.
(SOURCE ; TOI)