Extension unlikely for Telangana debate

HYDERABAD: President Pranab Mukherjee is believed to have decided not to entertain any request from Andhra Pradesh government seeking extension of time for the Assembly to debate on the draft Telangana bill.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and his supporters are planning to seek extension of the January 23 deadline to return the draft bill along with the views of the Assembly. This is seen as part of a plan to delay the bifurcation process.

However, highly placed sources in New Delhi ruled out the possibility of extension of time for the Assembly to debate on the AP Reorganisation Bill, 2013. 'The President has given six weeks' time for the Assembly to express its views on the bill and return it by January 23.

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It is more than sufficient to have an extensive debate on the issue and make necessary suggestions, if any, to the bill,' sources, quoting Rastrapathi Bhavan, said.

The Chief Minister is contemplating writing a letter on January 16 or 17 to the President seeking extension of time by at least four more weeks for the Assembly to debate on the Bill.

However, sources said the Centre had prevailed upon the President not to give any extension as the members had wasted their precious time in the Assembly by stalling the proceedings and not taking up the debate.

'Even if an extension is given, it is unlikely that there will be a meaningful debate on the bill. In any case, the members had already expressed their views on the clauses of the bill in writing and suggested various amendments.

It is more than enough for the Centre to prepare the comprehensive bill on the bifurcation,' sources said. Once the deadline ends by January 23, the bill will get back to the President in the next couple of days and it will reach the Union Home Ministry for the preparation of a comprehensive bill.

'The special session of Parliament will be held in the first half of February, in which the Telangana bill gets the nod of the House,' sources said.

Meanwhile, the Congress high command has prepared an action plan for the party to take up extensive campaign in the Telangana region to cash in on the passage of Telangana bill in Parliament.

Directions would be given to all the party leaders in the Telangana region to conduct public meetings, take out rallies and hold media conferences, starting from the last week of January at all levels ' from village to mandal to constituencies to districts.

They should ensure that the Congress would get maximum mileage. 'The Congress leaders should take to the people a strong message that the Telangana State has become a reality only because of the party and its president Sonia Gandhi.

The entire credit should go solely to the Congress party,' sources said. The high command is also contemplating creating separate regional committees for Telangana and Seemandhra for selection of candidates for the next elections, though there would be only one PCC chief till the elections are held.