Seemandhra Legislators to push for voting
HYDERABAD: With the Jan 23 deadline set by the President for completing the T-debate in state Assembly just nine days away, advocates of both Telangana and Samaikyandhra in the Congress have become busy formulating strategies for the final phase of the current session, from Jan 17 to 23.
Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy's camp has chalked out a plan to press for voting on the T-bill either entirely or clause-wise in both the Houses of the state Legislature.
Seemandhra leaders, cutting across political lines, are hopeful that as they have suggested many amendments to bill, the Speaker could not wind up the debate without conducting voting.
'The presiding officers of the two Houses will have no other option when majority members press for voting. We are confident that we will defeat the bill when it is put to vote,' said revenue minister N Raghuveera Reddy on Sunday.
Another minister from Seemandhra, Erasu Pratap Reddy, too expressed a similar view.
Joining them, TDP leader Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said, 'Seeking a voting is the basic privilege of any member. As several amendments have been proposed to the T-bill, the presiding officers should ensure that each amendment is put to vote.'
Samaikyandhra protagonists are also planning to petition President Pranab Mukherjee to extend the debate deadline.
The chief Minister is understood to have already decided to write to the President in this regard citing as reason the number of amendments suggested by MLAs and MLCs in their written submissions to the Assembly Speaker and the Council Chairman.
On the other hand, Telangana legislators are also formulating counter strategies. MLAs and MLCs from various parties, who had formed a coordination panel, have decided to oppose voting on the bill, if the presiding officers decide to hold it.
'The bill has been remitted to the state Legislature only for its views. Hence, it is not appropriate to hold voting on it,' said minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah.
Telangana leaders will meet before Jan 17, the day on which the Assembly reassembles after recess. They have also decided to undertake a Delhi visit to meet President Pranab Mukherjee to plead with him not to extend time given for debate on the T-bill.
Minister D Sridhar Babu on Sunday made an appeal to all the MLAs and MLCs from Telangana to counter the plans of Kiran Reddy.
News Posted: 13 January, 2014
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