Upset T-Cong MPs raise banner of revolt - Threaten To Quit Party To Protest PMs Statement,Plan To Launch United Front For T Cause

8 Congress MPs from Telangana on Monday made it clear that they would not hesitate to quit the party and face the polls independently if the party declines to announce a separate T state. Responding to Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs comments that the creation of Telangana state would be difficult as it would ignite violent reactions from other regions and that it needed a national consensus,the MPs said if that was the line of the party,they were ready to quit.They also said they would not contest bypolls on Congress ticket if their resignations,pending with the speaker for the past four months,were accepted by the presiding officers of Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.Sources said the MPs also explored the possibility of floating a united front with other like-minded forces in the region to prevent the splitting of votes. The MPs,K Keshava Rao (Rajya Sabha),M Yaski Goud, M Jagannatham,G Sukhender Reddy,G Vivekananda,S Rajaiah, T Balaram Naik and Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy,who met here at the residence of Komatireddy Venkata Reddy,a former minister,dubbed PMs statement as irresponsible.We did not expect such a statement from the PM because he did not raise the issue when Union home minister P Chidambaram made a statement in favour of Telangana on Dec 9,2009.He had never before expressed this opinion whenever he talked on the issue, Keshava Rao said. Accompanied by fellow MPs,Rao said they would raise the issue in the winter session of Parliament and seek a clarification.If the Center takes a view against Telangana or for that matter any alternative is proposed to keep the T issue pending,we will go to the people and explain it to them and seek their judgment in the by-elections, he said. Senior MP M Jagannatham said they would not take back their resignations which are pending with the speaker.If the speaker accepts the resignations,we will go to the people for their verdict on the Centres policy on Telangana, he said. It would not be possible for them to contest by-elections on Congress ticket as their resignations were against the stand of the Congress,Jagannatham told the media.How can we contest on the symbol of the party whose stand on T is being opposed by us, he said.The possible option,the MP from Nagarkurnool said,was to form a united front with like-minded forces to prevent splitting of T votes. No decision yet on 2nd SRC, says Azad The Congress core committee,which met in New Delhi on Monday, discussed the T issue for an hour but could not take any decision on vexed problem.Party sources said Congress leadership may seek more time to discuss the issue with national leaders before taking a final decision.The meeting was held at the residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and apart from the PM,was attended by party president Sonia Gandhi,defence minister AK Antony,finance minister Pranab Mukherjee,home minister P Chidambaram and health minister and AICC general secretary in-charge of AP Ghulam Nabi Azad.Later,talking to the media,Azad said the consultation process on the Telangana issue was still going on.A decision on the Telagnana issue is possible only after the completion of the process, he said adding the date for the meeting with national parties has not been finalized yet.He also said that no decision has been taken on setting up a second States Reorganization Commission. (Source-toi)