Seemandhra legislators to press for vote on Telangana bill

Ministers and Congress legislators from Seemandhra Friday said they would press for voting on Telangana bill when it comes before Andhra Pradesh assembly.

The decision was taken at a meeting of Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra) ministers and legislators with Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy here.

The Seemandhra leaders said a strategy to defeat the bill would be chalked out when President Pranab Mukherjee sends the bill to the assembly.

Primary Education Minister S. Sailajanath, who is leading the forum of Congress leaders opposed to bifurcation, told reporters after the meeting that they would also seek support of other parties to ensure defeat of the bill.

The meeting discussed the latest developments in the wake of the union cabinet Thursday approving draft Andhra Pradesh Reorgnisation Bill for formation of Telangana state.

Sailajanath termed the cabinet decision as unilateral. He wondered how an issue of bifurcation of a state could be taken up as a "table item" during the cabinet meet.

The meeting discussed a proposal to form a joint action committee comprising all parties to oppose bifurcation. The chief minister entrusted the task of consulting other parties to senior leaders.

The leaders also discussed another proposal to initiate legal battle when the bill comes before parliament.

Kiran Reddy plans to hold a meeting with central ministers and MPs from Seemandhra to chalk out a strategy.