Has Chandrababu gone back on 'T' State?

Hyderabad, Aug 25: TDP chief Chandra Babu Naidu appears to have back-tracked on his decision to give a second letter to the central government, supporting the formation of the Telangana state. 

Discussion has started in political circles about the intentions of Naidu as his party’s senior leader Payyavula Keshav, a staunch integrationist, has said that all his party chief said was that he would give clarity on the matter. He said Naidu has simply assured that his party would give clarity on the 'T' issue, and that does not mean support to bifurcation of the state, he said. 

However the Telangana leaders of the party are vouching that Naidu would give a letter to the center, supporting 'T' state. They became angry after Keshav has denied that Naidu has ever committed to give a letter. They also began suspecting that Naidu has gone back on his promise to give letter to the center. 

It may be recalled that TDP 'T' leaders have recently said that the letter to the central government was already drafted and announcement would be made after the ‘Liberation Day of Telangana’ on September 17. They also believed that the TDP chief had given up his ‘two-eye’ theory and decided to support Telangana formation. 

However, party leader Bireddy Rajasekhara Reddy has whipped up the separate Rayalaseema state demand. He said people of Rayalaseema would not mind remaining in the unified state, but want a separate Rayalaseema state if AP was to be divided. He has also sat in fast for four days, demanding formation of the third state. 

But 'T' leaders of the party continued to assert that come what may, their leader would send 'T' letter to the center. They even said that Chandra Babu Naidu has convinced the Seemandhra and Rayalaseema leaders on the issue. 

Confusion

Payyavula Keshav has stunned every one by stating that Naidu had never said the party would give another letter on 'T'. He said all Naidu assured was that his party would give clarity on the 'T' issue. 

Seemandhra leaders of the TDP are of the view that the party would not derive any extra mileage even if it gave a letter on 'T' to the center, as TRS would claim that it has forced the TDP to do so. It would only give advantage to the TRS and not TDP, they appear to feel. They also reportedly told Naidu that the letter on 'T' would be a self goal. Taking such a delayed decision on the 'T' issue, particularly after taking severe drubbing at the hustings,  would not make the party a champion of the 'T' cause, they feel. On the other hand, the party would suffer very severely in the Seemandhra region, they reportedly told Naidu. 

However, Telangana 'T' Forum convener Yerrabelli Dayakara Rao has dismissed the statement of Keshav as his personal view. He said party would surely give letter to the center and the letter would not make any mention about the Rayalaseema demand. 

With the leaders of the two regions expressing divergent views, there is once again confusion on the 'T' issue not only in the TDP but also among all other parties.