Core Congress discusses Telangana

Sources said the meeting, that lasted for one and half hours, deliberated at length over the Telangana imbroglio, over which almost all parties in Andhra Pradesh are sharply divided on regional lines.

This is the first meeting of the top Congress brass over Telangana after BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani declared his party`s support to the separate statehood while addressing his first meeting in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh over a week ago.

AICC general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad was specially called to the Core Group meeting which was also attended by other Core Group members Pranab Mukhkerjee, A K Antony, P Chidambaram and Gandhi`s political secretary Ahmed Patel.

Law Minister Salman Khurshid, who is not a member of the Core Group, was also present at the meeting which also discussed the issue of electoral reforms in the light of Team Anna`s demands for the right to recall and reject.

The Law Ministry proposals on electoral reforms include barring candidates against whom charges have been framed in cases of heinous crimes besides limited state funding of elections. Sources said the issue of electoral reforms was discussed at length at today`s meeting.