AP NEWS ON TELANGANA

Blow to KCR as only 15 quit

HYDERABAD

Telangana Joint Action Committee has decided to give MLAs one more day to submit their resignations against the Srikrishna Committee’s terms of reference.

T-JAC TO BOYCOTT GOODS MADE BY ANDHRA AND RAYALASEEMA TRADERS.


Just 15 legislators from five political parties submitted their resignations to the Speaker on Sunday, protesting against the terms of reference to the Srikrishna committee which they say is anti-Telangana. Among them were two Congress legislators, Mr R. Damodar Reddy and Ch. Mutyam Reddy, who face the the threat of party action.


This came as a big blow to the Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, whose ingenious gameplan was to force a constitutional crisis by getting enough number of legislators to resign from the Assembly.


As things stand now, neither the Assembly session nor the functioning of the Srikrishna Committee will be affected by the resignations. Mr Rao had planned to affect both.


Those who resigned include all the 10 MLAs of the TRS, TD's Mr Chennamaneni Ramesh, (who had resigned on December 23 last), Mr Maheswar Reddy of the Praja Rajam and the (The BJP floor leader, Mr Kishan Reddy, announced that he will submit his resignation after the Governor's speech in the Assembly on Monday. The Speaker, Mr N. Kirankumar Reddy, accepted Mr Chennamaneni Ramesh's resignation.


Many TD legislators submitted their resignations to the party leader, Mr Nagam Janardhan Reddy, while the Congress legislators streed clear of the drama.


The Telangana Joint Action Committee has decided to give MLAs one more day to submit their resignations against the Srikrishna Committee’s terms of reference.


“We have decided to announce the names of MLAs who do not submit their papers on February 16 and will launch protest dharnas before their houses and there will be complete non-cooperation from February 28,” said the convener of the Telangana Joint Action Committee, Prof. Kodandaram, The JAC has also decided to boycott all goods produced by Andhra and Rayalaseema businessmen.


Details about the goods and services to be boycotted will be announced later. The Congress high command has reportedly cracked the whip on MLAs threatening to resign or disrupting the sittings of the state Assembly beginning on Monday.


It has taken the resignation of its two MLAs seriously and may expel them from the party for six years.


The former ministers, Mr R. Damodar Reddy (Suryapet), and Mr C. Mutyam Reddy (Dommat), submitted their resignations on Sunday, protesting against the Centre’s attitude towards the formation of Telangana. Mr Damodar Reddy has been in the Congress for three decades.


Mr Mutyam Reddy severed his ties with the Telugu Desam and joined the Congress in the presence of YSR, a year ago. He was given a party ticket and got elected.


According to sources, while two other MLAs, Mr P. Narasa Reddy (Gajwel) and Mr Bikshamaiah Gowd (Aler) had also announced they would resign on Saturday, the PCC chief Mr D. Srinivas, convinced them not to quit. The PCC chief was reportedly informed that orders expelling Mr Damodar Reddy and Mr Mutyam Reddy would be issued in a couple of days.


Mr Srinivas has been calling each legislator personally and convincing him not to resign and obstruct the proceedings of the House.


Mr Srinivas has been specifically told by the party high command to inform legislators that any violation of its directive will be taken seri- ously. “If you resign, what will happen? You will be greeted with bouquets by Telangana activists for a day or two and after that no one bothers about you. The Congress will not re-nominate you, so what is the use?" Mr Srinivas reportedly told each legislator.


The Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, ministers and PCC leaders have been warning MLAs that if a crisis is precipitated by large numbers of resignations, the Centre will have no option but to impose President Rule in the state which will put the Telangana issue on the backburner.


Mr Srinivas has also reportedly asked MLAs and MLCs who have issued statements about their intention to obstruct or boycott the Governor's Address to the Joint Session of the state Assembly on Monday to withdraw such moves.


"How can you object to the policies of your own government? How can you boycott the House being members of the ruling party?" Mr Srinivas asked them.


Sources said the Union urban affairs minister, Mr S. Jaipal Reddy who belongs to Telangana, was also asked by the high command to rein in party MLAs.


A last minute effort by some ministers to pacify the two Congress MLAs to withdraw their resignation did not succeed. It is learnt that the Speaker has decided to accept the 14 resignations pending with him by Monday morning.

==============================================================================================


TD awaits Congress lead on resignations

HYDERABAD


Smart strategy blame game The TD can now say it complied with the JAC deadline and criticise the Congress MLAs for not doing so.


The Telugu Desam MLAs from Telangana region have decided to submit their resignations to the Telangana Joint Action committee convenor, Prof. Kodandaram, and not to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.


The TD has decided to tread carefully on the issue of resignations. The TD senior leader, Dr Nagam Janardan Reddy, while talking to mediapersons, said, “We have asked Prof. Kodandaram to secure resignations of Congress members before handing over ours to the Speaker."


As many as 28 members of the TD handed over their resignations to Dr Nagam Janardan Reddy on Sunday. The remaining 10 MLAs from Telangana districts would submit their letters on Monday, Dr Janardan Reddy said.


By giving the resignation letters to Joint Action Committee, the TD party ensured that their letters would reach the Speaker’s office only after the Congress members submit theirs’. The TD can now say it complied with the JAC deadline and criticise the Congress MLAs for not doing so.


The TD T-MLAs have also decided not to attend the Budget session starting on Monday as they have already submitted resignations to the JAC. “Only a constitutional crisis would ensure formation of Telangana state. We are ready to resign, Now, it is for the Congress to act,” said Dr Janardan Reddy.

==========================================================================================

Prez rule looms large over AP

HYDERABAD


All for T uncertainty The Telugu Desam may create pandemonium in the House; it is yet to be seen if T-Congress members also join.


The Budget Session of the state Assembly will begin from Monday against the backdrop of the two-and-a-half-month Telangana agitation, resignations by a few members, and the possible imposition of President Rule if the proceedings of the Assembly continue to be disrupted and there are more resignations.


The Business Advisory Committee meeting on Monday morning will decide whether it is going to be a full Budget session or a vote-on-account session. If it is a full Budget session, the House has to meet for a minimum of 28 working days and if it is a vote-on-account session, the House can meet for a minimum of five days.


Everything depends on the mood of Monday’s joint session. The Telugu Desam may create pandemonium in the House, and whether Congress members from Telangana also take part in this remains to be seen.


The options are, if the proceedings are disrupted and the Speaker to suspend those unruly members, followed by a House motion, the House proceedings can still continue. But if disruptions are going to occur daily, it may be difficult for the House to function.


Should members from one particular region decide to tender their resignations, that too would make it politically untenable to continue the House, though constitutionally, there is no obligation to discontinue the sitting. The Constitution only requires that a quorum (of 30 members or one-tenth of the total members of the House) has to be maintained for commencing and continuance of the House sitting.


Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle-Hyderabad dated 15-2-2010