Telangana bill may be tabled in Parliament on Tuesday

The bill to create Telangana is likely to be introduced in Parliament on Tuesday.

Home ministry officials on Sunday night said the file recommending introduction of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill in Parliament has been sent to the President through the Prime Minister's Office.

"The approval of the President is expected on Monday. We are planning to introduce the bill in Parliament on Tuesday," said a senior home ministry official.

The Union Cabinet had on Friday approved the draft bill for the creation of Telangana by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh, notwithstanding the state assembly's rejection of the legislation.

Earlier, talk in parliamentary circles was that the bill was likely to be introduced in Rajya Sabha on Monday and a supplementary list of business could be added to the agenda.

Amid opposition by anti-Telangana Members of Parliament, including those from the Congress, the government has so far refused to reveal its plans on the issue.

By introducing the bill in the Rajya Sabha, the government apparently wants to keep it alive even after the dissolution of the Lok Sabha. Bills introduced in the Upper House and not passed by it remain in the 'live register'.

The controversial bill will be presented in the form it was sent to the Andhra Pradesh assembly and the government is expected to move 32 amendments when it is taken up for consideration, sources said.

The proposed legislation does not provide for grant of Union Territory status to Hyderabad despite demands to that effect but the government will announce a special package for Rayalaseema and north coastal Andhra to address concerns of the people there.

The Cabinet cleared the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill after a special marathon meeting which was followed by a meeting of the Congress Core Group headed by party President Sonia Gandhi.

With the current session of the 15th Lok Sabha being the last ahead of elections, the government wants the bill to be taken up for consideration and passage during the session.

The government decided to go ahead with the bill despite the Andhra Pradesh assembly rejecting it, with Congress Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy leading the opposition to the proposed bifurcation. 

Image: A protest by pro-Telangana activists in Hyderabad