New Delhi,Feb 17 – After the Vote on Account on Monday, the focus is back on the Telangana Bill.
With the Congress likely to push the Bill in Parliament on Tuesday, let’s take stock of the situation and what the major players are likely to do.
The Congress
Notwithstanding protests from Seemandhra leaders, plans are afoot in the government to bring the Telangana Bill for debate in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
The party is gearing up to the task and has already issued a three-line whip to its members for the entire week asking them to be present in Lok Sabha and vote in favour of government business.
However, sources also indicated the party might also try to push the Bill without a debate. Either way, extreme turbulence ahead.
The BJP
After days of dillydallying, the Bharatiya Janata Party finally decided to support the Telangana Bill in its present form in Parliament, more importantly after considering its own poll prospects in the region.
Top BJP leaders, who met in New Delhi, said by supporting the Congress in Parliament, their fortunes in Telangana would improve and the UPA government wouldn’t get a chance to put the blame on the opposition for playing truant.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister has said he will resign immediately after the Telangana Bill is taken up for debate in Parliament.
With the Central government intensifying efforts to get the Telangana Bill passed, the Chief Minister met ministers and legislators from Seemandhra to chalk out their course of action. Reports from Andhra Pradesh said 8 officers of the Chief Minister’s Office have been given new postings.
Union Textiles Minister KS Rao
Union Textiles Minister KS Rao has said he would block the Telangana Statehood Bill in Parliament when it is next taken up, raising doubts if the suspension of Seemandhra MPs would facilitate smooth passage of the contentious bill.
Rao’s defiance made it clear that the suspension of 16 MPs was not a guarantee for passage of the legislation. “I will block the bill.
I am a minister but I am also an MP and accountable to my constituents,” he said.
Jagan Mohan Reddy
YSR Congress chief Jagan Reddy on Monday courted arrest after being stopped from marching to Parliament along with his supporters.
Jagan Reddy also made a direct attack on Congress President Sonia Gandhi, accusing her of attempting to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh for political gains.
“Congress plotted this whole game, where a pepper spray incident was forced upon Parliament to clear everybody, who is protesting. Rajagopal, who actually sprayed pepper, isn’t he a Congressman,” Jagan asked.
-INDIA TODAY
