Stalemate continues over Telangana bill in Andhra assembly

President Pranab Mukherjee Dec 12 had referred the bill to the state legislature under Article 3 of the Constitution for its opinion. It was initially given time to give its view by Jan 23 but after the state government sought another four weeks for the debate, the president extended the deadline by a week.

Opposing the state's bifurcation, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy had Friday submitted a notice to the speaker seeking permission to move a resolution to reject the bill. The resolution will urge the president not to send the bill to the parliament.

A similar notice to the council chairman A. Chakrapani was submitted by Endowments Minister C. Ramachandraiah.

The chief minister's action has plunged the legislature into an unprecedented crisis. Ministers from Telangana led by Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha have revolted against Kiran Reddy for unilaterally submitting a notice without discussing it in the cabinet.

Rajanarasimha has even demanded resignation of the chief minister, saying he has lost the confidence of ministers from Telangana.