Andhra assembly remains paralysed over Telangana bill

The TDP wanted the bill to be sent back to President Pranab Mukherjee with a resolution to urge him to reconsider bifurcation of the state while YSR Congress demanded that the house pass a resolution in support of united Andhra Pradesh.

The legislative council also remained parlaysed over the issue. Legislative Affairs Minister S. Sailajanth told the council amid the uproar that the government is ready for debate. He said those stalling the debate were in fact helping in the bifurcation of the state.

President Mukherjee had last month referred Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 to the state assembly for its views under article 3 of the constitution. The bill was tabled in the assembly on Dec 16 but no debate could be taken up due to protest by Seemandhra legislators.

The winter session resumed Jan 3 but the deadlock on the bill continued. The president has given time till Jan 23 to the assembly to send back the bill with its views.