The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leadership worked overtime on Sunday in speaking to Telangana MLAs of all parties including Ministers and discussed the strategy to be adopted in the Assembly on Monday.
The party went into a huddle with its legislature party meeting also attended by senior leaders and chaired by its president K. Chandrasekhar Rao. By seeking unity among Telangana MLAs the party wants to ensure that the draft bill on State’s bifurcation is taken up for debate on Monday itself by pressing for it in BAC meeting.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao said any delay in taking up debate on the draft Bill sent by the President would not only amount to disrespecting the constitutional head of the country but it would be violation of the constitution itself.
“There can be no other urgent business for Assembly than taking up the task forwarded by the President,” he said.
Stating that the Assembly could only give its opinion on the draft Bill, the TRS chief pointed out that draft Bill was not sent to Punjab Assembly when Haryana was carved out. Haryana State was formed after imposing the President’s rule in Punjab, he noted.
The noise being created by Seemandhra leaders was only to garner some votes before the elections, he felt. On Article 371 (D), he said it was not a hurdle in the formation of Telangana State and pointed out that Supreme Court had made it clear in the past that the Centre had got supreme powers to form new States.
Speaking separately, BJP leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy wanted Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Assembly Speaker N.Manohar and Leader of the Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu to fulfil their constitutional responsibilities and take up discussion on the draft Bill. He suggested that BAC should fix the number of days for debate and time for each party.
Demanding immediate debate on the draft Bill TDP leader M. Narasimhulu attributed the delay in formation of Telangana State to TRS chief’s refusal to merge his party with the Congress.
Meanwhile, YSR CP leader M.V. Mysura Reddy said that the President Pranab Mukherjee’s note on the draft Bill on Reorganisation of AP to take the views of the members and the opinion of the Assembly was tantamount to seek voting on it.
Seeking a special session for discussion on the bill, he urged the Speaker to follow the best parliamentary practices and give adequate time to the members to air their opinions. He said there was no need to issue whips by the parties.
