Our Delhi correspondent in New Delhi reports: Bureaucrats in the Union government are not confident that the Centre is serious in bringing a bill for Telangana for two simple reasons:  

The key figures for Telangana in the Union home ministry are under transfer to their parent cadres. K Skandan, IAS Tamil Nadu, is being reverted back to the state cadre.   And Rajiv Sharma is also to get back to his parent cadre Andhra Pradesh to become the finance secretary of the state.   These two senior officials are crucial for coordination and drafting of the Telangana Bill. Prior to that they have to be present in the all party meeting on Telangana being held in Delhi on November 12 and 13.  

Second, senior Union ministers who matter much on Telangana, are speaking out openly that the solution to the separate state will be difficult; and they feel the time to resolve is also too short.  

Since the Telangana bill is a Constitution amendment bill, the UPA government needs two thirds majority and approval of six state assemblies. The winter session of Parliament is scheduled for eleven sittings from December 5 to 21. The assemblies' election results will mar the winter session. Even if Congress wins all the four states, the BJP would not allow the Parliament to function.

Policy makers say that the Telangana Bill cannot be introduced in the extended session of Parliament. UPA political managers want the winter session extended to February 2014. That means the Parliament will not be prorogued. And this will also indicate that there shall not be a joint session of Parliament where President Pranab Mukherjee will address.

The UPA government wants to cut short the Budget session, which is just a vote on account taking process. With these two stumbling blocks the achievement of Telangana seems extremely difficult.