Sort out all anomalies in AP Reorganisation Act: TRS to Centre

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) today demanded the Centre to sort out all anomalies in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, as the Union government approved an amendment for increasing the number of seats in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council from 50 to 58.

Alleging that the move to increase the number of seats in the Legislative Council was taken under the pressure of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, senior TRS leader and party MP B Vinod Kumar said the Centre should have considered the other aspects which were vital for the larger interest of the people in both the states.

"I am not saying the Centre is favouring Andhra Pradesh. But, these steps (increasing the number of seats in the AP Legislative Council) were taken because of the pressure of Chandrababu Naidu, who is interested in increasing the MLC seats," Kumar said.

Elaborating various issues with the AP reorganisation Act, he said that are pressing needs for amending three schedules of the act pertaining to reservation for STs and Parliamentary constituencies.

"In the first schedule, some MPs in Rajya Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were allocated to their neighbouring states through draw of lots. It has to be amended," he said.

Referring to non-inclusion of Valmiki community in the ST list of Telangana, he sought necessary amendments to the act in this regard.

Earlier today, the approval for increasing Legislative Council seats was accorded by the Union Cabinet at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Cabinet decided to amend sections 23(1) and 23(2)(i)(a) of the 2014 Act relating to provisions for the legislative council.