AP assembly adjourned for the day

The house did not transact business for the third successive day as impasse over bifurcation continued

Andhra Pradesh Assembly was adjourned for the day today without transacting any business for the third successive day as adamant legislators of Telugu Desam and YSR Congress parties left the House paralysed, opposing the proposed bifurcation of the state.

Speaker Nadendla Manohar convened a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee to break the deadlock and prevail upon the Seemaandhra legislators to take part in the debate on the draft AP Reorganisation Bill-2013, referred to by the President.

The YSRC, however, insisted that the House first adopt a resolution opposing the proposed bifurcation of the state.

Proceedings of the House had to be adjourned within five minutes after it sat for the day's business at 9 AM today as the TDP and YSRC MLAs from Seemaandhra trooped into the well, raising slogans in support of a united state.

"It's becoming difficult for the Chair to enable functioning of the House. I request all the floor leaders to ask their members to return to their seats. We have to let the House function," the Speaker appealed repeatedly.

Manohar rejected the two adjournment motions moved by TDP and YSRC on the bifurcation issue and asked the members to let the House take up debate on the draft AP Reorganisation Bill-2013.

"All these issues could be raised during the debate," he said.

"We should now let the House run as it has been repeatedly adjourned all these days," the Speaker said, but the agitating members remained unrelenting.

The Speaker then convened a meeting of the BAC to find a way out of the impasse.

The winter session of the AP Assembly resumed on January 3 after a two-week break, primarily to debate the draft Bill but it barely functioned for 15 minutes on January 3 and 4 as TDP and YSRC remained firm on their respective demands that the draft Bill be withdrawn forthwith.

The YSRC has also been insisting on a resolution by the House for a united state.