Assembly fails to initiate debate Telangana Bill

The Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Assembly could not initiate the discussion on Telangana Bill and was adjourned for the day on Friday as the as the MLAs from Seemandhra region stalled the proceedings.

The Assembly session commenced at 9 AM on Friday with the slogans in favour and against the formation of Telanana. While the YSRCP and TDP legislators surrounded the podium of Speaker Nadendla Manohar raising Samaikhyandhra slogans, the TRS members countered them with Jai Telangana by standing near their seats.

The Speaker then announced that the adjournment motions moved by Prabhakar of TDP and Vijay Lakshmi of YSRCP seeking resolution on united Andhra Pradesh was rejected. He then directed Minister Dr J Geetha Reddy to begin Question Hour. However, the proceedings were disrupted following uproar created by the Seemandhra legislators. This forced the Speaker to adjourn the House for half-an-hour.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy was present in the House when it commenced although the Leader of the Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu was absent.

Similar scenes were witnessed when the House re-assembled at about 10.16 AM. This time Chandrababu Naidu was present in the House, while the Chief Minister was absent. The Speaker announced that the Question Hour has been postponed. He also advised the members not to display the placards and posters in the House. Amid slogan shouting by the legislators from both the regions, the Speaker again adjourned the House for one hour.

Normalcy could not be restored when the House met again at 12.38 PM. The TDP, YSRCP and a few Congress members from Seemandhra regions were protesting while holding placards. The TDP legislators wore black badges. Following continuous ruckus, the Speaker, at about 12.42 PM, adjourned the House for the day till Saturday.

The winter session of the state legislature resumed Friday after 15 days to debate Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 sent by President of India Pranab Mukherjee for its views.