With President Pranab Mukherjee giving his nod on Monday for the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2013, it is all set to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha, most probably by Wednesday.
UPA managers are waiting for the Andhra Pradesh Assembly’s approval of the Vote-on-Account. They are also engaged in talks with Opposition parties as well as Seemandhra MPs in a bid to secure their support for bifurcation of the State.
The Assembly was adjourned till Wednesday after Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy tabled the documents on Vote-on-Account on Monday. Mr. Reddy later had a brief meeting with Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, fuelling speculation that he might have submitted his resignation.
But sources in the Chief Minister’s office described it as a courtesy call.
In the normal course, the Governor addresses a joint session of the Legislature ahead of the presentation of the budget. But, as it is Vote-on-Account, the Chief Minister decided to brief the Governor, the sources added.
Expectations are that once the Assembly clears the Vote-on-Account, the Congress could consider action against Mr. Reddy, who has revolted over Telanagana.
The Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh will be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls scheduled for April/May. The open rebellion by its Chief Minister coupled with a no-trust vote by six Seemandhra MPs has been a matter of serious concern for the Congress.
Concerned over the deadlock in Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has invited the BJP brass in Parliament for lunch on Wednesday to consider ways of breaking it.
Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told The Hindu on Monday that the government's intention was to get the Telangana Bill passed in both Houses this session.
