AP, TS struggle to get fair hearing

• Officials of both States are forced to make repeat exercise to present their grievances to the powers that be in Delhi
• Reshuffle in the Union Home Ministry comes in the way of TS and AP government convincing the Centre of the urgency in resolving pending issues

New Delhi: All pending bifurcation issues dogging the Telugu States are hitting a road block here due to a couple of factors. While one of them is related to the reshuffle of the top brass in the Union Home Ministry,

the developmental issues are facing a crunch time and unless and until there is a targeted effort on part of the political masters of the two States, nothing is going to be resolved.

If it is a game of one-upmanship by the AP and Telangana State governments, the game is back to square one, thanks to the reshuffle of senior bureaucrats heading the Union Home Ministry. A repeat exercise is needed by the governments in convincing the Home Ministry of the urgency in resolving the pending issues.

As far as other developmental issues are concerned, a standard answer encountered when one knocks on the doors of any ministry nowadays is "secure the political clearance first for any kind of approval." The message is clear that either of the states gets its demands met only through the political corridors and not through the administrative ones.

As far as the Union Home Ministry is involved, the unceremonious exit of the former Secretary L C Goel and the additional secretary, A K Singh, from their posts has made the job of the two governments that much more difficult vis-a-vis pending bifurcation matters.

The new Home Secretary Rajiv Mehershi, who has taken over recently, reportedly is too busy grappling with several "far more pressing matters" than the bifurcation issues of the Telugu states, it is said.

Moreover, there is this general impression that "things are calming down. The initial heartburn and acridness are slowly giving way to a thaw in the relations of the two States.

Where is the urgency now to rush through the issues? Of far more importance is the employee bifurcation and it is schedule is almost uninterrupted. AP is getting busier with its capital related issues. Telangana is engrossed in its own business and developmental issues".

Sources indicate that the continuity that was there to the pending issues of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, has been completely affected now with the changes at the helm.

AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has taken a serious note of this development and has directed the Chief Secretary I Y R Krishna Rao to interact with the Home Secretary afresh while; the Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is yet to embark on theissue.

All issues like implementation provisions of the Section 8 - a vociferous demand of the AP government and Schedule 9 and 10 which deal with Central institutions and State corporations are hanging fire.

Earlier, both the Chief Secretaries used to make rounds of the ministry along with their Special Representatives pressing for an early decision in this regard.

I Y R Krishna Rao, who could not meet the Home Secretary on Tuesday as the latter was held up at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) reportedly redrafted his arguments to begin the arguments afresh, it is learnt.

AP government sources indicate "well, this would take time now. Our officials have to brief the Home Secretary and brief him properly. Similarly, they would be listening to the Telangana officials too once again.

There is nothing much for us to do here, other than go through the waiting period". Telangana State Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma, is also planning to visit New Delh, as soon as the ongoing Assembly session concludes.

On the other hand, NITI Aayog sources too are unsure of "movement on pending issues in the absence of pressure from the State governments".

Senior officials say "if you have to secure funds and need clearances, approach the PMO first. Unless we have a word from them, prioritisation would be a problem.

Both AP and Telangana State governments have long wish-lists. Things get done here on a first-come, first-served basis. However, please note that files via the PMO get priority."