AP House bedlam continues; Telangana MLAs join in disruption

Compounding the stalemate in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, legislators from Telangana joined their Seemandhra colleagues in stalling proceedings of the House over the state bifurcation issue today.

As Telugu Desam and YSR Congress members from Seemandhra stormed the Speaker's podium for the second day in a row, demanding withdrawal of the draft Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill-2013, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) MLAs, too, rushed in raising slogans in support of the Bill.

Speaker Nadendla Manohar appealed to floor leaders of all parties to coordinate with their members and ensure orderly functioning of the House but to no avail.

The Speaker rejected the two adjournment motions moved by TDP and YSRC on the bifurcation issue and sought to take up the Question Hour.

As noisy protests continued, Manohar adjourned the House for an hour, less than five minutes after the day's proceedings began at 9 AM.

When the House reassembled after more than 90 minutes, the TRS MLAs, too, rushed into the Well, holding placards and raising slogans in support of Telangana.

Amidst the din, the Speaker announced that all questions listed for the day were deemed to have been answered.

"At some point, we have to let the House function," he appealed to the agitating members and repeatedly asked them to return to their seats.

As both the Seemandhra and the Telangana legislators did not pay heed, the Speaker adjourned the House for another hour the second time.

The Assembly reconvened yesterday after a two-week break to take up debate on the Telangana Bill. However, MLAs from Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema, opposing bifurcation of the State, did not allow the House to function.