MPs' suspension leads to debate

The suspension of eight Congress members of Parliament from the Telangana region from the Lok Sabha yesterday has been intensely debated in political circles. Many feel it was a clever move by the ruling party leadership in Delhi to gain political mileage in the byelections to be held for 18 assembly segments and one parliamentary constituency in the state on June 12.

According to analysts, the move is aimed at sending a signal to the electorate of non-Telangana voters that it was not soft-peddling the issue of separate statehood.

Both the ruling Congress and the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) are focusing on non-Telangana voters, as, except one assembly segment (Parakala in Warangal district), all constituencies going for bypolls are in the Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra regions.