By IANS
Hyderabad : The Congress party Wednesday confirmed that the proposal to set up the second States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) to look into the demand for smaller states including Telangana was under “serious consideration” of the Congress-led central government.
Congress general secretary M. Veerappa Moily, who is in charge of the party affairs in Andhra Pradesh, told newsmen here that the party’s leadership was seriously considering the proposal but a final decision was yet to be taken.
“This (second SRC) is under serious consideration,” he said, but assured that the views of party leaders from Telangana would be taken into consideration before taking a final decision.
The reported decision of the party’s central leadership to constitute a second SRC created ripples in the ruling party with senior leaders from Telangana region opposing the move on the ground that this would delay the process of granting a separate statehood to the region.
Senior leaders like V. Hanumantha Rao, G. Venkat Swamy and M. Satyanarayana Rao have opposed the move and warned that this would affect the party’s prospects in next year’s elections.
Reports in a section of media that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has decided to set up the second SRC evoked sharp reaction from supporters of a separate Telangana.
The second SRC is expected to look into the demands for smaller states like Telangana and Vidarbha in Maharashtra.
Congress leaders from Telangana want the party to take a clear stand in favour of a separate state. However, some party leaders from Andhra and Rayalseema regions are against the state’s bifurcation.
Moily, who arrived here on a two-day visit, held talks with Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and other party leaders on the second SRC.