The Centre has convened a meeting in New Delhi on the 5th of next month to discuss the Telangana issue. Eight recognised political parties have been invited for the meeting. The Home Minister P. Chidambaram has sent an invitation to leaders of these parties following his December 23 statement in which he had promised to hold wide ranging consultations with all political parties and groups in the state on the issue of separate Telangana state.The parties invited are Congress, TDP, Telangana Rashtra Samiti, CPI, CPI(M), Praja Rajyam, BJP and MIM . The Centre's decision comes after detailed discussions in the government and at the highest political level in Congress party in the last few days after political parties were divided on regional lines in Andhra Pradesh and demanded immediate steps on formation of the separate state.<br/><br/>TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao on Tuesday said, he was prepared for talks but would not accept setting up of any committee on the issue which, he considered, will be a waste of time.<br/><br/>Parties and leaders from Telangana cited the statement of Chidambaram on December 9 in which he had promised that the process of forming Telangana state would be initiated. AIR correspondent says the MPs and MLAs of various political parties and the 13 Congress Ministers from Telangana region in the Andhra Pradesh government have still not withdrawn their resignations. In a related development, the Union Home Ministry has expressed satisfaction that the bandh in Telangana region had passed off peacefully. <br/><br/>The Centre’s statement inviting recognised parties for a meeting over separate Telangana state has prompted wide spread discussions among the leaders of various political parties in Andhra Pradesh. The all-party Telangana Joint Action Committee has initially welcomed the statement. However, the Convener of JAC Prof Kothandaram has said a final view would be taken only after due consultations with all the constituents. The ruling Congress party said the Centre’s invitation is a good sign. The opposition Telugu Desam Party is playing cautious and holding discussions among the party leaders. The discussions are underway even in the TRS which has convened an emergency meeting.<br/><br/>On the other hand, the Student Joint Action Committee has said that it would not stop agitation till a time-frame is announced.<br/><br/>In a related development, the Union Home Ministry has expressed satisfaction that the bandh in Telangana region had passed off peacefully.