Sought legislature's prorogation for ordinances, says Kiran Reddy

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy Friday clarified that he sought prorogation of the state legislature so that ordinances can be issued.

The clarification from the chief minister's office came amid reports in a section of media that he wanted the legislature to be prorogued to delay tabling of a bill for creation of separate Telangana state.

Pro-Telangana leaders including ministers and ruling Congress leaders from the region had criticized the chief minister for this reported move.

The chief minister's office Friday said it was a fact that a note was sent to secretary, legislature for initiating the process of prorogation of the assembly and council.

"The reason behind sending the note is that certain ordinances are to be issued for the administrative convenience and technically, an ordinance cannot be issued without prorogation of the house," it said.

It stated that it is a normal administrative procedure and nothing more than that.

The reports about the chief minister's reported letter to assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar had evoked criticism from Telangana groups as they saw it as an attempt to stall the Telangana bill.

The chief minister is against the bifurcation of the state while the central government is keen to send a bill for formation of Telangana state to the assembly by the month-end. A special session has to be convened for taking up the bill.

The state assembly adjourned sine die on June 21 this year and as per the rules it can meet again within six months, that is before Dec 20. But after proroguing the house, it would take another 10 days to issue a fresh notification to convene the assembly.

The chief minister's reported letter had not evoked any response from the speaker, who is at liberty to convene the house at a short notice of three days if the house is not prorogued. The speaker has questioned the chief minister's urgency in seeking prorogation.

The speaker's action in not responding to the chief minister's letter has reportedly angered ruling party leaders loyal to the chief minister. Talk of moving a no-confidence motion against the speaker was also doing rounds in the Congress circles for last few days.