Election of former Andhra Congress chief D Srinivas as the member of legislative council against the vacancy caused by former chief minister K Rosaiah's appointment as Tamil Nadu governor has sent shivers among the Telangana activists that the Congress appears to have decided against bifurcation of the state.

He is being made the state's home minister in place of Sabita Reddy, who has resigned to keep the Telangana flock together and chances are that he being from Telangana region may be hoisted as the chief minister to further dampen the Telangana movement.

The Congress sources said Srinivas is the choice of finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is now handling the Telangana imbroglio. He will be useful as a trouble-shooter to rein in Telangana leaders troubling the party on the Telangana issue, with some even threatening to breakaway to form a separate forum to fight for the cause. He is expected to be on call for Mukherjee to carry out his moves on Telangana, the sources said.

Even while remaining non-committed on separate Telangana issue, Srinivas is not subject to hostility in the region as several other Telangana leaders are, though he made a public posture recently by writing to Sonia Gandhi that the party has no option but to concede Telangana.

The Congress leaders, who are lobbying openly for Telangana in both Delhi and Andhra Pradesh, have warned incharge AICC General Secretary and Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad that the party is entering a "danger zone" by imposing Srinivas as MLC to weaken their cause and play caste politics. How unpopular he is could be judged from the fact that he was voted out in his two attempts in 2009 and 2010 to become a MLA, they affirm.

They point out that Srinivas will be also heavy on young Chief Minister Kiran Reddy by virtue of his seniority. His choice is seen as the Congress bid to get closer to Kaapus, the second large influential community, as Reddys may go with Jagan Reddy, the rebel MP son of late chief minister, and Khammas appear committed to TDP chief and former chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu.

The party leadership is banking on Srinivas to change the facing fortunes of the ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh because of the prolonged Telangana stir.