Amidst talk of convening an all-party meet to discuss the vexed issue of a separate Telangana state, the Congress core group on Friday discussed the matter inconclusively. According to sources, the core group has resolved to discuss the need to convene a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meet to deliberate on the issue in the next core group meet. Sources also added that apart from Telangana, the core group also discussed the strategy to be adopted in the forthcoming parliamentary session. The issue of RTI amendment came up for deliberations and sources said that an all-party meet may be convened to discuss it and Union parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath has been asked to take up the matter with other political parties. On Thursday, Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde said a decision would be made soon. Congress general secretary in-charge of AP Digvijay Singh has submitted his proposal to party chief Sonia Gandhi.
*** Rajasthan factions worry BJP Narayan Bareth Jaipur, July 19
Though senior BJP leaders, including former Union minister Jaswant Singh and his son former MP Manvendra Singh, rallied behind state BJP president Vasundhara Raje during her Suraj Yatra in the desert region, factionalism at the local level is a cause for concern for the party. Sources said the saffron leaders have reason to smile because Ms Raje and former external affairs minister Jaswant Singh have joined hands and showcased unity. But rivalry among local leaders eyeing tickets for the Assembly polls is worrying the party. The sources said factionalism surfaced in Barmer when the rival groups engaged in fighting. In Barmer, local BJP leaders Kailash Beniwal and Mridurekha Choudhary circulated pamphlets against former minister and Jat stalwart Gangaram Choudhary. and his granddaughter Priyanka during the yatra. According to the sources, Priyanka has emerged as a potential candidate from Barmer seat but Ms Choudhary opposed her name.
