The Congress-majority Andhra Pradesh assembly rejecting the Telangana bill has come as a major embarrassment for the party in a state which was crucial for its wins in two LS polls. But it should rankle even more because of the growing fear that the expected gains from Telangana may not be there to compensate the losses the party is set to suffer in Seemandhra region.
The disappointment will deepen if the BJP insists that the reorganization bill be treated as a legislation aimed at amending the Constitution. The BJP has been among the original Telangana enthusiasts, and will be seen as obstructing statehood for a region where it has pockets of influence. However, it is under pressure from its likely ally N Chandrababu Naidu of Telugu Desam Party to calibrate its enthusiasm at least until Lok Sabha elections. Naidu has see-sawed over Telangana to settle for a position which opposes the central move without rejecting statehood for Telangana.
BJP has not announced its stand yet. Sources said with trends suggesting that it can get handsome returns from the state in partnership with Naidu, it may get tempted to nuance its position. The view that creation of Telangana will require rewriting Article 371D of the Constitution to ensure that people from the region continue to avail of preferential treatment they are guaranteed under the provision, is seen as legitimate. The BJP can cite this to insist that the reorganization bill should clear the test prescribed for constitutional amendment bills if only to avert the delay likely to result from legal challenges on the ground of procedural infirmity.
The disappointment will deepen if the BJP insists that the reorganization bill be treated as a legislation aimed at amending the Constitution. The BJP has been among the original Telangana enthusiasts, and will be seen as obstructing statehood for a region where it has pockets of influence. However, it is under pressure from its likely ally N Chandrababu Naidu of Telugu Desam Party to calibrate its enthusiasm at least until Lok Sabha elections. Naidu has see-sawed over Telangana to settle for a position which opposes the central move without rejecting statehood for Telangana.
BJP has not announced its stand yet. Sources said with trends suggesting that it can get handsome returns from the state in partnership with Naidu, it may get tempted to nuance its position. The view that creation of Telangana will require rewriting Article 371D of the Constitution to ensure that people from the region continue to avail of preferential treatment they are guaranteed under the provision, is seen as legitimate. The BJP can cite this to insist that the reorganization bill should clear the test prescribed for constitutional amendment bills if only to avert the delay likely to result from legal challenges on the ground of procedural infirmity.
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