YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy on Wednesday sought the support of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee for a united Andhra Pradesh.
After meeting the Chief Minister at the makeshift Secretariat, ‘Nabanna,’ Mr. Reddy told journalists that no government could divide any State as per its whims and fancies. He stressed need for amending Article 3 of the Constitution (regarding the formation of new States and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing ones).
Mr. Reddy said the consent of the State Assembly as well as Parliament should be taken, prior to taking such a decision on bifurcation of a State. “No government in Delhi should be given the power to arbitrarily divide a State.”
Ms. Banerjee said her party’s stand was very clear. “It is important to take people into confidence. If people are divided on the issue then it was imperative to evolve a consensus.” The Trinamool later tweeted that public should have been consulted and other options explored.
“The issue could have been resolved differently instead of taking this path. It is not proper to divide a State with a political motive,” she said. Ms. Banerjee mentioned in her party tweet that she has had good relations with Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy and his family for a long time.
