The BJP is in NO doubt about Telangana this time

The BJP, which is toying with the idea of forming the next government at the Centre feels that it does not want the headache of bifurcating a state, where a majority have expressed a negative view, says Vicky Nanjappa.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is clear now about Telangana and does not want to keep the issue pending. The issue came up for discussion during a meeting of senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu  and Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Digvijaya Singh, and the BJP view was it that does not want to keep the issue pendingT

The party, which had earlier assured its support for the formation of Telangana, feels it would also be shown in very poor light if it backtracks now. It already faces allegations of backtracking on the issues of the RamTemple and the Uniform Civil Code.

The worry for the BJP was however the Telegu Desam Party and the YSR Congress Party. The BJP has kept both options open for an alliance. The party, which appears to be leaning towards the TDP for now, also wants to keep a post-poll alliance option open with the YSR Congress Party, which is likely to get a better vote share in Seema-Andhra region if the state is bifurcated.

Both the TDP and the YSR Congress have voiced their dissent over the formation of Telangana. The TDP has even told the BJP that it would not enter into an alliance if the Telangana bill is pushed through. But senior BJP leaders realise that they have two options on Andhra Pradesh, and the TDP needs the alliance more than they do.

However, the BJP which had sought several amendments on the Telangana Bill, which have been accepted by the Congress, is expected to seek another addition to the Bill. They want the Congress to announce a major package for Seema-Andhra before the Bill is passed.

Meanwhile Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kitan Kumar Reddy has said that he will quit if the Bill goes through. He is even planning on seeking a vote of account in the AP assembly, though it is a wasted exercise now.

The bill is expected to be placed before Parliament where amendments will be sought. Several Congress, TDP and YSRCP members of Parliament from Telangana are likely to seek a no-confidence vote against the United Progressive Alliance1. However, if the BJP supports the Bill, then there is no issue for the Congress which is expecting to clear the same by this week.