President Pranab Mukherjee gives nod to Telangana Bill

The controversial bill will be presented in the form it was sent to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and the government is expected to move 32 amendments when it is taken up for consideration, sources said.

The proposed legislation does not provide for grant of Union Territory status to Hyderabad despite demands to that effect but the government will announce a special package for Rayalaseema and north coastal Andhra to address concerns of the people there.

The Cabinet cleared the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill after a special marathon meeting which was followed by a meeting of the Congress Core Group headed by party President Sonia Gandhi.

With the current session of the 15th Lok Sabha being the last ahead of elections, the government wants that the bill be taken up for consideration and passage during the session.

The government decided to go ahead with the bill despite the Andhra Pradesh Assembly rejecting it, with Congress Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy leading the opposition to the proposed bifurcation.