Telangana bill heading towards defeat in AP assembly

The TDP and Seemandhra legislators of Congress trained their guns on YSRCP by accusing it of cooperating in the state's division by stalling the debate, which they believe will finally lead to the bill's defeat.

While the Congress and the TDP remained split along regional lines, YSRCP, which has no stakes in Telangana, has taken a clear stand in support of 'smaikyandhra' or a united Andhra Pradesh.

It has been demanding that before taking up the debate, the assembly pass a resolution urging the central government to keep the state united.

It was is also of the view that agreeing to the debate amounted to accepting bifurcation. Its legislators were finally suspended from the assembly to facilitate the debate.

The blame game among the three principal parties for bifurcation is being played both in and outside the legislature. Seemandhra Congress leaders argue that their party took the decision to carve out Telangana state after both TDP and YSRCP supported the demand.

The TDP claims that Congress is playing a 'game' through 'match-fixing' with TRS in Telangana and YSRCP in Seemandhra.

The YSRCP blames both the Congress and the TDP for the bifurcation and claims to be the only major party which stands for 'samaikyandhra'.

As Jan 23, the deadline set by the president for the legislature to send back the bill with its views, is fast approaching, all eyes will be on the assembly, which will resume the debate on Jan 17 after the Sankranti holidays.