GoM plans for GHMC capital

Hyderabad: The Group of Ministers on Telangana met Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday evening and briefed her on the developments in the preparation of the Telangana Bill.

Key issues like declaring Hyderabad the joint capital for 10 years, earmarking the GHMC limits as the common capital and inclusion of certain villages of Bhadrachalam revenue division which come under the submergence area of the Polavaram dam in Seemandhra, were discussed in the meeting.

The GoM reportedly submitted a view that by declaring the GHMC area as the joint capital, the Governor could be entrusted with certain issues like law and order and land administration without interference from either government.

In their opinion, the necessary changes can be incorporated in the T-Bill without bringing the GHMC area under Union Territory.

On the Bhadrachalam revenue division, the GoM seems to have suggested transfer of certain villages in Seemandhra state by affecting the delimitation of constituencies and bringing them under Araku (ST) Lok Sabha segment.

Next: After Cabinet meet, GoM calls on Sonia

After Cabinet meet, GoM calls on Sonia

Hyderabad: Soon after the Cabinet meeting concluded on Monday evening, GoM members Sushilkumar Shinde, A. K. Antony, P. Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh and Ghulam Nabi Azad went to 10 Janpath and had a one-hour meeting with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

It is learnt that in the last Congress Core Committee meeting, Gandhi had made some changes in the draft bill and the GoM has accordingly reworked some issues.

The GoM will meet at 4.30 pm on Wednesday and finalise the Telangana draft bill and send it to the Prime Minister’s Office.

It is most likely that the Union Cabinet, which meets on November 28, will approve the draft bill and recommend it to the President to initiate steps for introduction of the same in the ensuing winter session of Parliament as per the provisions of Article 3 of the Constitution.