President to decide Telangana Bill issue by Thursday

The President had sent the draft bill to the state legislature on December 12 and gave time until January 23 to discuss and return it.

However, it is not clear what are the recommendations of the Home Ministry and what would be the President's call on the request for extension of the deadline.  

There are precedents of giving extension of deadline to debate the state reorganisation bills.  

The Madhya Pradesh Assembly was given extended time by the then President to discuss and approve the bill for creation of Chhattisgarh.

However, experts are of the opinion that whatever the Assembly does, Parliament can go ahead with its legislative process for creation of the new state.  

The Union Cabinet had on December 5 given the go-ahead for the creation of a 10-district Telangana and outlined the blueprint for carving out the country's 29th state.  

Telangana will comprise 10 districts and the rest of Andhra Pradesh will consist of 13 districts.

Hyderabad will remain the common capital for both the states for a period not exceeding 10 years.