The outcome of the by-elections in Telangana region has once again pushed the separate statehood issue to the front in the Congress party and is all set to widen the regional differences within the party.

While anti-Telangana leaders like Lagadapati Rajagopal are attributing the election results only to the commitment factor, rather than the Telangana sentiment, the pro-Telangana leaders have already started bringing pressure on the high command stating that if the people’s aspiration is ignored, the party would face further rout in the region in the next elections. A few Congress MPs from Telagnana met AICC incharge of AP affairs Veerappa Moily in New Delhi and appealed to him to expedite the process for formation of Telangana state.

“We must view this verdict as a referendum on Telangana and the collective wish of the people. It is time we initiate the process for bifurcation of the state,” said Madhu Yashki Goud, the Congress MP from Nizamabad and a strong votary of Telangana.