Seemandhra leaders to meet Pranab on July 12

HYDERABAD:  Seemandhra Congress public representatives including MPs, MLAs and MLCs will meet Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee either on July 12 or 13 to persuade him against the bifurcation of the state. A delegation of Seemandhra leaders comprising Eluru MP Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, primary education minister S Shailajanath, MPs KVP Ramachandra Rao and Vundavalli Arun Kumar met Pranab Mukherjee at Delhi on Wednesday night and requested him to give audience to the delegation. "The Finance Minister consented to meet the delegation either on July 12 or 13," Sambasiva Rao said.Earlier after hearing about the Telangana Congress leaders resignations, the Seemandhra leaders wanted to visit the national capital on July 5 or 6 to request the Centre to continue the United Andhra Pradesh.It is learnt that Union minister and in-charge of AP affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad has directed the Seemandhra Congress leaders, who included ministers A Ramanarayana Reddy, S Sailajanath, TG Venkatesh, former minister G Venkat Reddy and others, not to come to Delhi at this juncture since it might provocate their Telangana counterparts. "Already, you (Seemandhra Congress leaders) have placed your views before the party. You can once again express your views before the Central leaders after a gap of about 10 days", he reportedly told them.Talking to mediapersons in Delhi, Diwakar Reddy said that tense situation was prevailing in both the regions and there was a need to take an early decision on the contentious issue. The central government has got the responsibility to take a decision on the issue, he said.