Cong fails to achieve breakthrough on Telangana

The Congress on Friday failed to achieve any breakthrough on the on-going Telangana crisis in a meeting held between UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders.

Party's Andhra Pradesh in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad submitted a report on the crisis to party president Sonia Gandhi on Friday.

Sources said that Azad's report was found to be inconclusive.

His report was discussed in Congress Core committee meeting but it was said that it needed time as consultations were on. Home Ministry was also briefed on ground situation in Andhra. Arguments of both sides were presented.

Azad's report also cautioned that it anticipated violence in some areas of the state. Centre may send some leaders to assess ground situation in Andhra Pradesh

Amid mounting pressure from pro-Telangana groups whose agitation for a separate state continued for the 18th day on Friday, Congress' top brass, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party chief Sonia Gandhi, met here.

This was the first core group meeting attended by Gandhi after her return earlier this month from the US where she underwent a surgery for an unspecified ailment.

Party sources said that a decision will take some more time as more consultations are necessary on the issue.

The meeting took place within hours of AICC General Secretary Azad presenting a report to Gandhi on the Telangana issue prepared after consultations with party MLAs and MPs from Andhra Pradesh.

Azad was among the special invitees at the Core Group meeting which has Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Defence Minister A K Antony and Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Gandhi, as members.

Earlier, Chidambaram said that more time was needed. "He(Azad) has told them (MLAs and MPs) that allow a little time for the party to take a decision and the government to take a decision," the Home Minister said.

Congress is caught in a tricky situation in Andhra Pradesh with the Telangana region observing an indefinite bandh over the issue of separate statehood, a demand being opposed by Coastal Andhra and Rayalseema regions of the state.

(With additional inputs from PTI)