It's well known that Andhra Pradesh is divided over Telengana. It's also known that political parties -- including Andhra Pradesh Congress -- is divided over the issue. What is not sufficiently appreciated, however, is the depth of this division, which may surprise most people.

Going by the conduct of two Lok Sabha MPs of the Congress , one from Telangana and other from Andhra Pradesh minus Telangana, at a roundtable discussion on the issue in Delhi on Thursday, it may even shock you!

Organised by Observer Research Foundation, a Delhi-based think tank, the discussion on demand for Telangana state had the two speakers -- L. Rajagopal, MP from Krishna district, and Madhu Goud Yaskhi, MP from Nizamabad -- sitting next to each other.

On the dais, both MPs sitting next to each other did not speak, nor exchange pleasantries, nor smile, and almost did not look at each other. The whole discussion seemed as a story of political slugfest between two regions – Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Both of them vigorously put their point of view on the debate.

In fact, during discussion, Yaskhi was candid enough to accept this fact. “The reason why I am not talking to him (Rajagopal) is that we are on the opposite side of Telangana issue. The issue is so important that we have not exchanged smile and no handshake,” he explained while supporting his point on how Telangana was neglected over the years by the Andhra leaders.

“We will only talk after the separation of Andhra Pradesh,” Yaskhi further added. This itself show tension is brewing in the Andhra Pradesh Congress. Both the leaders were seated next to each other on the dais. They even did not look to each other while the debate on Telangana went for hours.

Rajagopal was first to reach the venue as Yaskhi was in parliament taking part in discussion on caste based census. Rajgopal, an industrialist took this opportunity to give his power point presentation on unified Andhra Pradesh. In the middle of the debate when Yaskhi finally arrived, he thundered, “I do not need power point presentation but will speak of people’s heart. It is not an emotional movement started in 2009 but Telangana issue is an identity where people are neglected a lot.”

Rajagopal said that the solution is not by creation of the small states. “There should be devolution of power from state to municipal. That’s how the demand of small states will wean away.” He also claimed that the movement for Telangana has ebbed. “The josh (energy) is missing, that's why there is nothing happening now on this front. Sentiments cannot be the reason for bifurcation.”

Yaskhi said the josh is still there. “They are mistaken that the movement is finished,” he replied to Rajagopal’s assertion. 

In February, 2010 the Government announced the Terms of Reference of the Justice B N Srikrishna Committee, which will, among other things, examine the situation in Andhra Pradesh arising out of the demand for a separate State of Telangana. The Committee has been asked to submit its report by December 31, 2010. 

And after the debate both the leaders went differently firm in their belief not seeing and speaking to each other.