Andhra assembly stalled over Telangana bill

Andhra Pradesh assembly was adjourned Monday as the opposition parties stalled the proceedings over the bill for the formation of separate Telangana state sent by President President Pranab Mukherjee for its views.

As soon as the house met for the day, legislators surrounded the speaker's podium, holding placards and shouting slogans. Amid utter pandemonium, Speaker Nadendla Manohar adjourned the house for an hour.

While Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) wanted the speaker to immediately take up the Telangana bill for debate, main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) moved an adjournment motion demanding debate on the manner in which the central and state governments are handling the issue of state's bifurcation.

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) members had moved an adjournment motion, urging the speaker to pass a resolution in the house to ask the central government to keep the state united.

Repeated appeals by the speaker to restore order in the house fell on deaf ears, leaving no option but to adjourn the house for an hour.

The house had adjourned without any business Friday on the same issue. The draft Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 20,13 reached the assembly Friday.

The bill was sent to President Pranab Mukherjee by the union cabinet on Dec 5 with a request to refer it to Andhra Pradesh assembly to seek its views under Article 3 of the Constitution. The bill reached Hyderabad on Dec 12.

The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the assembly is likely to meet later in the day to take a decision on when to take up the bill for debate.

Telangana legislators are demanding that the house immediately take up the bill while their counterparts from Seemandhra want special session next month.

The President has given time till Jan 23 to the assembly to return the bill with its views.

The winter session of the assembly is scheduled to end Dec 20.