Telangana bill likely to be introduced in RS tomorrow

The government is likely to introduce the Telangana bill in Rajya Sabha tomorrow.
The talk in parliamentary circles is that list of supplementary business could be added to the agenda tomorrow. The bill was not listed for introduction till late this evening.
Preparations are believed to be on in this regard, although no intimation has yet been given to the members.
Amid opposition by anti-Telangana MPs, including those from Congress, the government has so far refused to reveal its cards on the issue.
Earlier, the plan was to introduce the bill on February 12.
The bill is being introduced in Rajya Sabha as the governmernt apparently wants to keep it alive even after the dissolution of Lok Sabha. Bills introduced in the Upper House and not passed by it remain in the 'live register'.

Notwithstanding the opposition from within Congress and outside, the Union Cabinet had on Friday cleared the Telangana bill.

The controversial bill will be presented in Rajya Sabha in the form it was sent to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and the government will move 32 amendments when it is taken up for consideration, sources said.
The proposed legislation does not provide for grant of Union Territory status to Hyderabad despite demands to that effect but the government will announce a special package for Rayalaseema and north coastal Andhra to address concerns of the people there.
The Cabinet cleared the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill after a special marathon meeting which was followed by a meeting of the Congress Core Group headed by party President Sonia Gandhi.

With the current session being the last of the 15th Lok Sabha, the government wants that the bill should be taken up for consideration and passage during the session.
The government decided to go ahead with the bill despite the Andhra Pradesh Assembly rejecting it, with Congress Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy leading the opposition to the proposed bifurcation.