AP Governor meets PM, Chidambaram

As the Centre grapples with the Telangana crisis, Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan today (Oct 8) met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and is understood to have briefed him about the situation in the agitation-hit region.

Narasimhan, who arrived here last evening, met Singh at his official 7, Race Course Road residence during which the two are believed to have discussed the Telangana statehood demand issue at length. The meeting assumes significance as the general strike in Telangana region entered the 27th day today amid indications that the agitation would be intensified in the coming days.

The Governor is also understood to have briefed the Prime Minister about the situation in the Telangana region, where life has come to a standstill for the past 26 days. However, there was no official word on what transpired at the meeting.

The meeting came as Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha arrived here for consultations with the Central leadership. Earlier, Narasimhan met Home Minister P Chidambaram and briefed him about the developments in the state.

Singh had earlier this week sought to defuse the Telangana crisis by meeting TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao and Congress leaders from the region during which he sought some more time to resolve the issue. However, Rao had rejected Singh's appeal to call off the strike.