Assembly Adjourned Over Telangana Issue

A House divided on regional lines could not take up any business on the second day of the winter session of Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Assembly on Friday.

About 10 minutes before the House assembled, TDP and TRS members squatted near the podium of Speaker Nadendla Manohar.

As soon as the House met at 10am, the Speaker was greeted with slogans both in favour and against the formation of Telangana.

While TRS members raised slogans of "Jai Telangana", the Seemandhra legislators of TDP and all MLAs of YSRCP shouted "Jai Samaikyandhra" slogans.

A few members from the Treasury Benches, hailing from Telangana, joined the chorus. More than 15 MLAs of ruling Congress party including Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha joined the Telangana MLAs in slogan shouting.

With no signs of normalcy returning to the House, the Speaker adjourned the House at 10.06am for half-an-hour.

Similar noisy scenes were repeated when the House met again at 12 noon.

The members, cutting across party lines but divided on regional lines, stalled the proceedings.

The MLAs did not respond to the Speaker's appeal that the House needs to debate on the damages due to recent cyclones.

Following uproar, the Speaker again adjourned the House at 12.08pm. The House re-assembled again at 1.40pm.

Besides the Speaker, Legislative Affairs minister D Sridhar Babu and government chief whip Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy appealed to the members to resume their seats.

With the members showing no signs of retreat from creating uproar, the Speaker adjourned the House at 1.43pm till Monday. (INN)