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What to expect out of cabinet's Telangana meet

The Union Cabinet will meet on Thursday to discuss the Telangana crisis in detail and the government is expected to announce a time-bound programme for the formation of a separate state, reports Vicky Nanjappa.

A crucial meeting of the Union cabinet will be held to discuss the burning issue on Telangana statehood on Thursday. After talks with Telangana leaders failed, the Union cabinet has decided take stock of the situation prevailing the Telangana region.On Wednesday, Congress President Sonia Gandhi met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and discussed the ongoing crisis.

Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana were paralysed for the last two days due a massive 48-hour bandh called by pro-Telangana activists.

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Centre may announce time-bound programme for Telangana formation

The Union Government is well aware that it needs to tread carefully while dealing with the issue. While Telangana leaders from all parties have resigned demanding that statehood be granted, members of Legislative Assembly from the Rayalseema-Andhra have threatened to quit if the demands of the former are met.

The Centre has quite a few problems at hand. Firstly, it needs to save the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh, as it still has three more years in office. It is unlikely that the cabinet may agree on granting statehood to Telangana fearing backlash from MLAs belonging to other regions in Andhra. But with pro-Telangana leaders not ready to budge, the cabinet is expected to announce a time-bound programme for the formation of Telangana, say insiders.

Pro-Telangana students to take to the streets today

Sources indicate that Centre will be look at buying more time from the Telangana leaders. The situation is sensitive and the Congress high command is well aware that any wrong move may prove fatal for the Kiran Kumar Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh.Hyderabad continues to remain tense.

After the two-day bandh, students from Telangana will take to the streets on Thursday demanding a separate state. These protests will be followed by rail roko programmes over the next two days.