The AP Assembly could not initiate the discussion on the Telangana Bill, and was adjourned for the day on Friday.
The Andhra Pradesh state Legislative Assembly could not initiate the discussion on the Telangana Bill, and was adjourned for the day on Friday, as MLAs from the Seemandhra region stalled the proceedings.
The Assembly session commenced at 9am on Friday, with slogans in favour of and against the formation of Telangana. While YSRCP and TDP legislators surrounded the podium of Speaker Nadendla Manohar, raising Samaikyandhra slogans, TRS members countered them with "Jai Telangana" shouts.
The Speaker then announced that the adjournment motions moved by Prabhakar of TDP and Vijay Lakshmi of YSRCP, seeking a resolution on united Andhra Pradesh, was rejected. He then directed minister Dr. J Geetha Reddy to begin Question Hour.
However, the proceedings were disrupted, following an uproar created by Seemandhra legislators. This forced the Speaker to adjourn the House for half-an-hour.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy was present in the House when it commenced, although the Leader of the Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu was absent.
Similar scenes were witnessed when the House re-assembled at about 10:16am. This time, Chandrababu Naidu was present in the House, while the Chief Minister was absent. The Speaker announced that the Question Hour was postponed. He also advised members not to display placards and posters in the House.
Amid slogan-shouting by legislators from both the regions, the Speaker again adjourned the House for one more hour.
Normalcy could not be restored when the House met again at 12:38pm. Members from TDP, YSRCP and Congress, hailing from the Seemandhra region, were protesting with placards. TDP legislators wore black badges.
Following the ruckus, the Speaker, at about 12:42pm, adjourned the House for the day till Saturday.
The winter session of the state legislature resumed on Friday after 15 days, to debate the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 sent by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, for its views. (INN)