The Group of Ministers (GoM), constituted to present a report to the Union Cabinet on bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, is expected to meet next week to complete its job.
According to officials, though the GoM met on Thursday, it could not complete its task as two of its members — P.C. Chidambaram and Ghulam Nabi Azad — could not attend as they were not in town.
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The GoM, which has already completed consultations with various stakeholders, including Union Ministers from the three regions in Andhra Pradesh, has been mandated to look into a whole range of complex issues including determination of the boundaries of Telangana and the residuary State with reference to the electoral constituencies, judicial and statutory bodies, and other administrative units.
“We will try to push the proposal as hard as possible. We have to discuss multiple options. We are in discussions. We will bring the Bill in the winter session of Parliament [which begins on December 5 and concludes on Dec. 20],” Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters at the end of the 90-minute meeting.
The officials dealing with the GoM are hopeful that it would finalise its report next week and submit it before the Union Cabinet.
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Once the Cabinet puts its seal of approval, it would be sent to the President who in turn would send it to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly for consideration. Approval of the Assembly is not mandatory for the Union government to commend the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Constitution Bill to Parliament for consideration and passage.
Security challenges
Separately, Intelligence Bureau director Asif Ibrahim has said that creation of Telangana has thrown up new challenges for security agencies in view of the counter agitations. He was addressing the annual conference of Directors-General and Inspectors General of Police here.