T-Bill: Cong warns troublemakers in Parliament of suspension

 The Congress will not hesitate to seek suspension of troublemakers from Seemandhra to ensure passage of the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Bill in Lok Sabha.

UPA floor managers on Saturday appeared confident of getting the bill through in Parliament, which would set the stage for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The government expects that the new state would be carved out before the Lok Sabha elections are announced.

Congress leaders told Deccan Herald that the passage of the bill in Rajya Sabha, where it is expected to be introduced on Wednesday, would not be as difficult as expected. There are five members in the Rajya Sabha from the Seemandhra region who could be potential troublemakers.

The TDP duo of Y S Chowdary and C M Ramesh are the most vocal members. The Congress’ K V P Ramachandra Rao, K Chiranjeevi and J D Seelam would be easier to deal with. Chiranjeevi and Seelam, being ministers in the Union Cabinet, may prefer to avoid a ruckus in the Upper House.

If there is trouble, the presiding officer can name the unruly members, which would force them to withdraw from the House. The bill can be taken up thereafter, a Congress leader said.

However, the real test for the government would be in the Lok Sabha, which has 25 members from the Seemandhra region.

In the 245-member Upper House, the Congress has 72 members while the BJP has 47 MPs. Three seats are vacant.

The members of the Congress are leading the protests against the Telangana Bill.

Some members of the TDP and all members of the YSR Congress, led by its chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, have been stalling proceedings since the winter session resumed on February 5.

The BJP leaders have been the most sought after by leaders from both regions. Jaganmohan Reddy had meetings with the BJP leaders, while TRS chief K Chandrashekhara Rao met leaders from both the Congress and the BJP.