The congress high command has reportedly decided against granting statehood to the Telangana region and a clear statement is expected by it in January.

Reports said that the party high command had obtained the opinion of West Bengal Chief Minster Mamatha Banerjee, NCP leader and Union agricultural minister Sharad Pawar and former Tamil Nadu chief minister Karunanidhi on the issue. The three of them had reportedly vetoed the idea of granting statehood to the Telangana for their own reasons.

Party president Sonia Gandhi is likely to make the announcement that Telangana could not be granted as there was no unanimity on the subject.

The congress high command is likely to convene a core committee meeting in January on the issue and chief minister Kirankumar reddy and PCC Chief Botsa Satyanarayana will also be invited to the meeting.

Before making the announcement that there would be no Telangana, the high command has decided to know the arrangements being made by the AP Government and the PCC chief to deal with the circumstances arising out the declaration.

The congress feels that anti-Telangana decision by the Centre may create a temporary hatred for the party in the T region but it is of the opinion the anti-congress wave can be neutralized in the next two years preceding the 2014 elections. (JUBS)