Telangana could not fructify if consensus is broken

With diverse pulls and pressures coming to the fore, Congress on Thursday hinted that a separate Telangana could be a case of 'so-near-yet-so-far' if consenus is broken by any party at the central or state level.

The party also indicated that the decision on Telangana would not necessarily pave the way for creation of other smaller states like Vidarbha, Bundelkhand, Poorvanchal, Harit Pradesh and Gorkhaland.

"A state of Telangana cannot come about without two levels of consensus. One at the central level for Constitution amendment and another at state level for passing of a resolution...(in the assembly). They cannot come unless there is a consensus from all parties," Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.

He said the Centre's decision to accept Telangana statehood had "no similarity, no equivalence, not identical in any way to decision regarding other states and regions of India".

Singhvi said the decision on Telangana was "conceptually, factually and in context unrelated to any other (demand) and we reject (any claim) that it comes near any other ....remotely or indirectly".

Singhvi's remarks came as Andhra Pradesh plunged into a fresh political crisis today with 60 MLAs and a MP belonging to Congress, TDP and PRP from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions resigning in protest against the Centre's decision to carve out a Telangana state.