New Delhi: Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP (Telugu Desam Party) supremo N Chandrababu Naidu today (July 22, 2004) demanded a political solution to the sharing of Krishna waters with Karnataka and sought Congress President Sonia Gandhi's intervention on the issue.

"Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Delhi all ruled by Congress and Sonia Gandhi has to intervene. It is a political solution", Naidu told reporters after an all-party delegation earlier in the day met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and urged him to impress upon Karnataka to release 50 Tmc ft of Krishna waters from Almatti reservoir to the State.

Observing that Gandhi was Chairperson of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and leader of Congress party, he said, "She is the right person to settle the issue". There was surplus water in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh needed water urgently as it was facing drought for the fourth consecutive year.

Asked whether his party would meet Gandhi on the issue, he said, "We are prepared to meet her. We will consider".

Earlier, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy disagreed with the suggestion of Naidu that Gandhi should be asked to intervene in the issue with the neighbouring State.

On Andhra Pradesh Government's move to provide reservation to Muslims in jobs and education, Naidu said TDP had suggested three per cent reservation for Muslims but not on religious basis but on backwardness of the people as it has to stand before the court.

On State Government lifting ban on People's War Group (PWG), he refused to oppose or welcome the move but said, "We want to have a permanent solution" and it was for the Government to assess the situation and provide security.