Countdown begins for Last Ball
HYDERABAD: The State Assembly is going to witness an acrimonious debate on the AP Reorganisation Bill-2013 as the stage is set for discussion on the same.
As the Bill has reached the Assembly on Thursday, leaders on either side of the divide, cutting across political lines, are bracing themselves for a lengthy battle on the floor of the House.
AICC State affairs incharge Digvijaya Singh, who landed in Hyderabad on Thursday afternoon to push the State Assembly towards giving its opinion on the Bill at the earliest, immediately began making all-out attempts to tame some of the belligerent Seemandhra lawmakers of his own party.
Soon after his arrival, he paid a visit to PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana and enquired about his health. After that, he is learnt to have discussed strategies with Botcha. Later, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy called on Digvijaya at the Lake View Guest House.
According to sources, during the 45-minute-long meeting, Digvijaya asked Kiran to see to it that the debate is taken up during the ongoing winter session of the Assembly itself.
When Kiran told him a special session could be convened for the purpose as the President has given six weeks for the Assembly, the AICC point man did not agree with him.
Indicating that Singh has succeeded in persuading Kiran to act as per his advice, the Chief Minister sent the Bill to the Assembly as soon as he received it from the Union Home Department joint secretary S Suresh Kumar Thursday evening.
Even though the President has given six weeks (time till Jan 23), if the Bill is circulated to members Friday itself, the current session of the Assembly and Council may debate it and send their opinions immediately to the Centre.
Digvijaya Singh spent the entire day like a busy bee by holding a series of meetings with his party leaders from either side of the divide so as to ensure a smooth discussion on the bill in the House.
When the Telangana Congress leaders such as Dy CM Rajanarasimha, former Speaker Suresh Reddy and ministers K Jana Reddy and N Uttam Kumar Reddy met him, Digvijaya told them he had come to ensure that 'everything goes off smoothly.'
According to sources, Rajanarasimha, Jana Reddy and KR Suresh Reddy requested Singh to see to it that the bill is tabled in the ongoing winter session of Parliament.
Later, Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu told reporters the Bill will be taken up for discussion in the present session itself as it was sent directly by the President. Sources said the Business Advisory Committee of the Assembly will meet either Friday or Monday to decide the date for debate.
News Posted: 13 December, 2013
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