New Delhi/Hyderabad, Jul 13 (IANS): The Congress Working Committee (CWC) will take a decision on the issue of separate Telangana state, said party general secretary Digvijaya Singh Friday.
The core committee Friday discussed the issue but left the final decision to CWC.
Digvijaya Singh told reporters after the core group meeting at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence that the working committee would take a decision.
"The Congress party has held widest consultations with all political parties, with all leaders and finally the core group has now met the chief minister, the deputy chief minister and the PCC president to take a final view. Therefore Congress shall take a decision in the working committee and will take a decision," he said.
The meeting was attended by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi and other leaders.
Earlier, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha and state Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana made their presentations separately before the core group.
The three leaders believed to have briefed the core committee the political advantage the party may get or the problems it may face if a decision is taken either way.
The chief minister, who hails from Rayalaseema region, reportedly explained to the core committee the possible consequences of division of the state. He said if a decision was taken in favour of Telangana state, this may create a December 2009 like situation when MPs and state legislators in Seemandhra submitted mass resignations.
His deputy Damodar Rajanarasimha, a strong supporter of Telangana demand, told the core committee about the political gains the party may drive in the region by carving out the separate state.
He said this would only be a de-merger as Telangana was a separate state before it was merged with then Andhra state in 1956 to form Andhra Pradesh. He conveyed to the panel the strong public sentiments in Telangana for a separate state.
It was not clear what the state Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana told the committee. He had once remarked that there is no harm if Telugu-speaking people have two states but last week said he prayed to god to keep the state united.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Rajanarsimha said CWC would meet as early as possible to take a decision. He was hopeful that the CWC would find a solution to contentious issue.
It was a disappointment for Telangana leaders camping in the national capital for two days, hoping for a positive decision.
Leaders from Seemandhra (Rayalseema and Andhra regions), who were also lobbying in the national capital, had stated the core group would not take a decision.