President's Rule may be imposed in Andhra: Sources

New Delhi: The ongoing agitation for a separate state of Telangana in Andhra Pradesh may force the Central Government to impose President's Rule in the Congress-ruled state. Sources have told CNN-IBN that the Central Government is looking into the option of imposing President's Rule in Andhra Pradesh to tide over the crisis.
However, sources also added that the imposition of President's Rule in a state has to be ratified by Parliament and the Opposition may shoot it down with its combined numbers. There is tremendous pressure on the Congress to commit to the formation of Telangana state by dividing Andhra Pradesh from both within the party as well as from the Opposition.
But the party feels that creation of a separate state of Telangana may be difficult at the moment so the option of President's Rule is being considered.

The final call on the issue will be taken by the Congress Core Committee chaired by party President Sonia Gandhi.
Congress' Andhra Pradesh in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad, however, denied that the Centre was considering the option of President's Rule.
"This is a process of wider consultations and consultations will continue. Where does the question of President's Rule arise?" said Azad.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju said, "We are apprehensive about agitation. Investments are not possible in this atmosphere and we are trying to resolve the issue in an amicable manner."
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, Governor ESL Narasimhan are in New Delhi to discuss the issue with the Centre and the Congress High Command.
Narasimhan met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday morning and discussed the law and order situation in Telangana, where the agitation seeking statehood for the region entered its 26th day on Saturday. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was also present during the Narasimhan-Singh meeting.
Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana, too, has been called to New Delhi for a discussion with the party top leadership on the contentious statehood issue. All the Andhra ministers have also been called to New Delhi and will meet Mukharjee individually.
Congress MPs of the Telangana region who had tendered their resignations earlier have threatened to step up their agitation.
"If the police suppression and oppression continues, we are going to take a very tough action on this front. We are considering to once again submit our resignations and press for acceptance of our resignations. And go on a fast," said Congress MP G Vivek.
Mukherjee had met the Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi and Azad on how best to handle the agitation on Friday
Normal life in the region has been crippled following the agitation for a separate state of Telangana. The agitation has left all 10 districts of the Telengana region, including state capital Hyderabad, paralysed.