The indefinite strike called by the Telangana Employees’ Joint Action Committee (TEJAC) is likely to end on Sunday.

The striking employees’ umbrella organisation will hold talks with the Group of Ministers (GoM) and later meet Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Sunday, after which they are expected to make an announcement withdrawing the strike.

CM assurance helped break T-stand off

The breakthrough with Telangana staff came with the CM’s assurance that the government will take a delegation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to urge him to take an early decision on Telangana.

TEJAC leaders initially wanted to make the announcement of withdrawing the strike in New Delhi after meeting the Prime Minister, but the state government shot this down as it would undermine the power of the Chief Minister.

The government received strong indications from TEJAC leaders on Friday that they will return to talks with the government on Sunday and announce calling off their strike immediately. On Friday, the Sakala Janula Samme crossed the 38-day mark, which makes it the longest strike for Telangana since the 37-day strike in 1969.

The indefinite strike by Telangana employees began on September 13 and brought the state administration to a halt for a month. However, with the employees of APSRTC, Singareni Collieries and government teachers and educational institutions calling off their strike last week, the Sakala Janula Samme lost much of its steam with only non-gazetted officers continuing the strike.