Andhra Assembly adjourned again over bifurcation issue

While Telangana MLAs insisted draft Bill be tabled in House forthwith, those from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema opposed it

Andhra Pradesh Assembly was caught in a stalemate today with members from either side of the regional divide disrupting proceedings over the issue of tabling the draft AP Reorganisation Bill-2013, that was sent by the President last night, in the House for discussion.

While MLAs from Telangana region insisted that the draft Bill be tabled in the House forthwith, those from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema opposed it.

Soon, all the MLAs stormed the Speaker's podium holding placards for and against the proposed bifurcation of the state.

The House proceedings were adjourned for half-an-hour in the morning as soon as the meeting began, but order did not restore even two hours after the break.

As the slogan-shouting legislators remained in the Well of the House, Speaker Nadendla Manohar adjourned the proceedings for another half-an-hour for the second time.

Earlier, MLAs from Telangana, including those of ruling Congress, had stormed the Speaker's podium and demanded that the draft AP Reorganisation Bill be taken up for discussion immediately.

At the same time, legislators from Seemaandhra region, too, rushed into the Well of the House demanding that a resolution be passed opposing the proposed bifurcation of the state.

Sources close to the Chief Minister said the Seemaandhra side wants discussion on the draft Bill to be taken up in a special session of the Assembly next month since the President gave the House time till January 23 to return the Bill with its views.