Hyderabad, Feb 20: Union Petroleum Minister S Jaipal Reddy has created unnecessary controversy over Telangana while speaking to the media at Rajahmundry yesterday. He has said that there would be no ‘T’ Bill in the ensuing session of the Parliament. Stating that the central government has not yet taken any decision so far on the issue, Jaipal also said that there was need for further discussion on the matter.

This statement of his, has dampened the spirits of the Telangana protagonists who have been hoping for an early solution to the vexed problem. The TRS is likely to use this statement of Jaipal Reddy, to its advantage in the ensuing assembly by-polls. Congress leaders were shocked that such a seasoned leader had made such a statement on the volatile issue, at the time when the party was taking winning the by-elections as a life-and-death issue for the government.

The future of the Kiran Kumar Reddy government depends on the results he would be able to achieve in the by-elections. Two Congress members Jupalli Krishna Rao of Kollapur in Mahabubnagar district and Rajaiah of Station Ghanapur in Warangal district have resigned to the Assembly and Congress to join TRS. They are now contesting as TRS candidates in the same seats vacated by them. As these two are Congress seats, the ruling party has to retain them, even if it does not win more seats.

If it does not win at least these two seats, it would badly reflect on the functioning of the Chief Minister.

Jaipal Reddy making this controversial statement at this particular time has embarrassed the Congress leadership.