Impasse continues in Andhra assembly on Telangana bill

The impasse over the debate on the bill for creation of Telangana state continued in Andhra Pradesh legislature Saturday with Seemandhra legislators not allowing any debate on it.

For the second consecutive day, both houses were adjourned without any debate on Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 referred by the president for the legislature's views.

Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra) legislators, opposing state's bifurcation, stalled the proceedings in both the houses, leading to their adjournment.

Assembly Speaker N. Manohar adjourned the house thrice, the third time for the day as opposition lawmakers from Seemandhra did not allow him to run the house while their counterparts from Telangana also surrounded his podium demanding immediate debate on the bill.

While Telangana legislators wanted the speaker to immediately take up the bill for debate, Seemandhra lawmakers opposed this. The members were also carrying placards and posters.

The speaker adjourned the house for one hour, minutes after it met for the day at 9 a.m. When the house re-assembled, there was no let up in the pandemonium, forcing the speaker to adjourn the house for another hour.

When there was no change in the situation even after two adjournments, Deputy Speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who was in the chair, adjourned it till Monday.

Legislators of main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) wanted the house to return the bill to the president without debate while those from YSR Congress party demanded that first a resolution be passed to urge the central government to keep Andhra Pradesh united.

Legislators from Telangana demanded the speaker to take up the bill for debate without any further delay.

The legislative council was also rocked by the bifurcation issue. Demanding that the state be kept united, Seemandhra legislators did not allow the chairman to run the house.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has demanded that the speaker suspend the members creating ruckus in the house so that debate could begin on the bill. TRS leader Harish Rao told reporters that not debating the bill amount to insulting the president.

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 was sent to the assembly by the president on Dec 12 for its views. The bill was tabled amid ruckus on Dec 16 but could not be taken for debate due to protest by Seemandhra legislators.

On Dec 19, the house was adjourned by the speaker till Jan 3.

The second phase of the winter session began Friday and is scheduled to continue till Jan 23, the date given by the president for the assembly to send back the bill with its views.