Seemandhra MLAs raise pitch on Bill, Congress men to move Supreme Court

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Dec 10, 2013: Even as Congress state affairs in-charge Digvijay Singh is set to reach Hyderabad to build consensus among the party MLAs over the AP reorganisation bill, which is most likely be introduced in the state assembly for discussion in winter session, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy’s camp seems to be working overtime to garner the support of  MLAs from Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra, cutting across the party lines, to defeat the bill and then approach the apex court  against bifurcation.

After the Congress MPs, who moved a no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha, its the turn of party legislators to embarass the high command. They have decided to further defeat the bill in the Assembly.

Further, the MLAs are also mulling to approach the apex court with views expressed against the Telangana bill by the majority of the state Assembly members. The apex court had already, in a petition filed against the state bifurcation by a group, stated that it was premature to seek a legal remedy, but left the option of approaching it at an appropriate time.

Ports and infrastructure minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, who has been strongly pitching for united Andhra Pradesh, on Tuesday, dropped enough hints in this regard.

“We are approaching every MLA and preparing a list district-wise who will be on board in opposing the draft bill in the state Assembly. The Supreme Court had already left an option for approaching it at an appropriate time. We are confident that at least 60-70 per cent MLAs, including those belonging to Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and surrounding districts, would oppose the bill. It will be a strong point for our case when we approach the apex court. This is one of the options we have,” he said.

Ganta Srinivasa Rao, a strong votary of Samaikyandhra, has been backing the chief minister’s moves on the issue. He lamented that lack of unity among elected representatives of the Congress was impeding them in their fight for Samaikyandhra cause.

“Some MLAs of our party talk about special packages for regions like north Andhra and Rayalaseema, others talk about Rayala Telangana. But with regard to Telangana, all elected representatives, cutting across party lines, voice only one opinion and this helped them push their cause,” he added.