Telangana Bill rejected by Andhra Pradesh assembly

The Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Thursday rejected the draft Bill to create a separate Telangana state.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President K T Rama Rao expressed confidence that the Bill will be passed in Parliament with a two-thirds majority.

"The role of assembly is limited in the formation of a new state. As far as the AP assembly is concerned, everybody knows that this is a divided house. Andhra Pradesh assembly, including the Chief Minister, is divided along regional lines. Therefore, it doesn't come as a surprise to us," he told media here today.

"What we are hopeful, that irrespective of what the Assembly may have resolved, one thing remains a fact, the discussion on the Bill has been completed, the Bill has been sent back in the stipulated time. The Parliament has to get this Bill through the Cabinet. Once the Bill is introduced in Parliament, we know it for a fact that it will be passed with a two-thirds majority," he added.

Meanwhile, state Irrigation Minister T G Venkatesh, who has been advocating for a united Andhra Pradesh, said that there was no question of accepting this Bill, while adding that the Central Government cannot function unilaterally on this issue.

"President of India is an elderly person. He will respect the voice of the people of Andhra. When he sends a legal opinion, I am sure it will come in our favor. The question of accepting this bill does not arise. The Centre cannot function unilaterally. They have to respect the state resolutions," he told media here today.

On December 5, last year, the Cabinet cleared the Parliamentary bill for bifurcating the Andhra Pradesh to create a separate Telangana state, with 10 districts.

In July last year, the ruling Congress party approved the creation of a new Telangana state, which had raised fears of violence in the area.

The proposal was received with mixed emotions across the state, with various politicians starkly opposing the bifurcation.