Seemandhra MPs will oppose bill on Telangana: Magunta

We have decided to defy the party whip on the issue, says the Congress MP

Congress MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy joins Samaikyandhra agitators in cleaning a car to press for unified Andhra Pradesh, in Ongole on Thursday.

Exuding confidence that any bill for formation of separate Telangana State will not get passed in Parliament, Congress MP from Ongole Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy on Thursday said he along with other MPs from Seemandhra decided to defy the party whip in the event of introduction of a bill for the State’s reorganisation and get themselves disqualified.

Addressing a press conference here, he felt that getting the resignations of Congress MPs accepted by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar at this juncture would go against the interests of Seemandhra people.

“We (Seemandhra MPs) should continue our fight against the bifurcation move by continuing in our posts and work for the defeat of any bill moved in this connection,” he said turning down the striking employees’ demand for creating a constitutional crisis by putting in their papers.

He felt that the bill for the State's reorganisation would get defeated given the minority status of the Congress-led UPA Government and opposition to formation of Telangana State from within the Congress from Seemandhra MPs as also from parties like the Samajwadi Party and the Janata Dal (United).

Realignment

Pinning hopes on the political realignment in the State ahead of the polls, he said the likely political understanding between the BJP and the TDP would also work against the State’s division.

While the TDP was against division of the State without addressing the concerns of Seemandhra people, the BJP was against any other proposal other than Telangana State inclusive of Hyderabad.

“In this situation, I firmly believe that the next general election will be held only in united Andhra Pradesh,” he felt.