CM, ministers submit 'affidavits' opposing Telangana

Amid continuing logjam over Telangana bill, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and members of his council of ministers, barring two, and MLAs from Seemandhra region today submitted 'affidavits' opposing bifurcation of the state.
The ministers and MLAs submitted their affidavits to Speaker Nadendla Manohar with a request to forward those to the President even as proceedings of the Legislative Assembly were washed out for the third straight day amid ruckus created by legislators, deeply divided along regional lines.
With the extended deadline set by President Pranab Mukherjee for the legislature to express its views on the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 ending tomorrow, the Chief Minister, ministers and MLAs from Seemandhra have submitted their views in form of affidavits.

The Group of Ministers on Telangana headed by Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde is likely to meet on February 4 to decide the future course of action after Reddy sought an extension of the deadline for discussing and returning the bill before sending its recommendation to the President.
The Chief Minister had yesterday written to the President seeking an extension of the January 30 deadline as hardly 90 odd members had spoken on the legislation, while some had tendered their views in writing on account of disruptions. The President, who had initially given time till January 23 for the legislature to discuss and return the Bill, later extended the deadline till January 30.

According to experts, Parliament can proceed with the legislative process for creation of the new state irrespective of what the state legislature does.
The Chief Minister had on Saturday moved a notice seeking the Speaker's permission to move a resolution rejecting the bill and returning it to the Centre.
As those supporting a united Andhra Pradesh are insisting on the resolution to be brought followed by a vote, which is being resisted by Telangana backers, the House has not been able to function for the last three days.