Andhra assembly adjourns without a debate on Telangana

Hyderabad: In a big blow to pro-Telangana members, Speaker N. Manohar today adjourned the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly till January 3, without a debate on the state reorganisation bill.

While the Seemandhra MLAs opposing the division of the state were elated over the delay in the debate, the Telangana members seemed worried and uncertain. Angered over the adjournment of the session a day ahead of schedule, the pro-Telangana members of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) staged a sit in protest outside the chamber of the speaker and the protest was continuing till late in the evening.

No debate on the Telangana bill could take place on the fourth consecutive day — today — as the stalemate continued.

The Upper House legislative council was also adjourned as the members were divided on regional lines.

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy addressed the council for the first time since the bill was tabled on last Monday. He advised both the speaker of assembly and the chairman of legislative council to convene the meeting of Business Advisory Committee to set the procedure for the debate. Describing the draft state reorganisation bill as sensitive, the chief minister said, “Such a bill was never discussed in the legislature.”

“The debate should be without any provocation and all members should be careful about their language’, the chief minister said, urging the members to respect the sentiments of others.

Though he was opposed to bifurcation of the state, the chief minister appeared in favour of a debate saying even the Uttar Pradesh and Bihar assemblies had discussed the bills for the division of the states.

The intervention of the chief minister caused an uproar in the council with the TDP members opposing the debate. Senior TDP member Y. Ramakrishnudu said that the chief minister cannot direct the presiding officers on how to conduct the proceedings.

Amid the din the Chairman Chakrapani adjourned the session.

With the MLAs from Seemandhra region continuing to resist any debate on the bill seeking division of Andhra Pradesh and formation of Telangana state, Speaker N. Manohar adjourned the House till January 3. Originally the House was scheduled to continue till Friday but the speaker adjourned it a day in advance.

Issuing a circular the speaker announced that the winter session of the assembly will be held from January 3 in two phases till January 23.

Pro-Telangana members from TRS, Congress, Communist Party of India (CPI) and BJP were worried that the adjournament will lead to a delay in the entire process of the parliament passing the crucial bill to form Telangana state.

Congress members met in the chambers of Panchayat Raj minister K. Jana Reddy to chalk out their strategy. TDP Telangana Forum sent a letter to the speaker demanding continuation of the session.

Some of the Telangana members wanted a shorter recess so the debate could be completed at the earliest.

It was yet another day of shouting match in the House as the TDP and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MLAs from Seemandhra region rushing to the speaker’s podium stalling the proceedings.

House was clearly divided on the regional lines as the members from Telangana region irrespective of party affiliations were demanding an immediate debate on the bill. Seemandhra members of TDP on the other hand demanded that the House should return the bill to centre without any debate to send a message that the majority of members were in favour of united Andhra Pradesh. YSRCP members demanded that the House should pass a resolution in support of united Andhra Pradesh.

In the midst of this stalemate, the President Pranab Mukherji also arrived in Hyderabad on his southern sojourn today. He will stay at Rashtrapati Nilayam in Bolarum.

Both the pro and anti-Telangana state members have decided to meet the president during his stay in Hyderabad and present their respective cases. Seemandhra minister S. Sailajanath said that the members will submit a representation to the president opposing the bill. He said that the Seemandhra members have also given a notice to the speaker demanding that the House should pass a motion in support of united Andhra Pradesh.

“During the debate on the motion the members can express their views”, he said.