Telangana seeks more Assembly seats

HC bifurcation will also be discussed with Parliamentary panel on Aug. 10

Enhancement of number of Assembly constituencies from 119 to 153, bifurcation of the High Court, division of assets including the A.P. Bhavan between Telangana and A.P. are among the major issues that will be highlighted by the State government during the crucial meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs in New Delhi on August 10. The committee headed by former Union Minister P. Chidambaram has invited the State government to present its views on the “status of implementation of the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act”.

The government accordingly prepared a detailed presentation highlighting the promises that were pending implementation four years after bifurcation of the State. The copies of the presentation quoting status of the assurances made under different sections of the act were submitted to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat on Tuesday for circulation among the members.

Seat delimitation

The Centre was yet to fulfil the promise relating to enhancement of Assembly seats by taking up delimitation of the constituencies as assured under Sections 17 (1) and 26 (1) of the Reorganisation Act. The exercise on the delimitation of the constituencies had been kept on hold because of the clarifications sought by the Election Commission of India on the status of the Scheduled Tribe population in the three constituencies from which seven mandals were merged with neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

Though the State had submitted a detailed note on the population and caste-related issues post removal of these mandals, there was no communication about the commencement of the delimitation process.

The government will insist on bifurcation of the High Court in line with the Section 31 of the Act. The issue had been kept pending on the ground that infrastructure was not available in the neighbouring State. The government, in its presentation, will seek steps for distribution of revenues as well as lands and goods including the A.P. Bhavan between the two successor States. The presentation runs into more than 30 pages and annexures relating to status of various promises.

Among the major issues that are likely to be highlighted are division of investments in certain funds, apportionment of assets and liabilities of State undertakings, apportionment of public debt and refund of taxes collected in excess.

Division of corporations

In addition, the State delegation, likely to be headed by Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma and Finance and State Reorganisation Affairs secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao, will represent issues relating to bifurcation of State Finance Corporation, constitution of apex council for Godavari and Krishna rivers and their management boards.

Issues like infrastructure and special economic measures assured to the State on the floor of Parliament during bifurcation and measures for progress and development of the successor States will form part of the State’s presentation in front of the standing panel.