CM writes to PM, Pranab on bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Friday requested the Centre to follow "established practices and conventions" and refer the bifurcation issue to the state assembly for "appropriate resolution".

In a three-page letter addressed separately to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the chief minister also urged the Centre to "initiate steps to bring peace and harmony as well as create a congenial atmosphere" before initiating any further steps on the Union Cabinet's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.

"The minimum we expect from the government of India is to follow established practices and conventions and, as a first step, refer the matter to the AP state assembly for appropriate resolution," he said.

"After getting the resolution and building consensus among various stakeholders, the Bill can be sent to the President for further reference to the state legislature," he wrote in a letter to the prime minister.

In the letter to the President, he requested him to "direct the Union government to seek resolution on the division of the State from the Legislature, as per the conventions established".

"After getting the appropriate resolution, through a transparent process of open discussion and debate, we need to build consensus among various stakeholders before the draft Bill is sent by His Excellency to the State Legislature," he wrote in his letter.