No consensus on Telangana row, Andhra assembly adjourned twice

Hyderabad: Pandemonium prevailed in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly as no end appeared in sight to the ongoing impasse over the state bifurcation issue, leading to adjournment of proceedings twice this morning. Unrelenting legislators of Telugu Desam and YSR Congress continued from where they left yesterday, storming the Speaker’s podium and preventing the House from transacting business. [caption id=“attachment_1326639” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  A file photo of protests against Telangana bifurcation. AFP[/caption] The Telangana Rashtra Samiti MLAs too joined in, raising pro-Telangana slogans. The Speaker reminded the agitating members of the decision taken at the Business Advisory Committee meeting yesterday and appealed them to let the debate on the draft AP Reorganisation Bill be taken up. However, the YSRC legislators insisted on the House passing a resolution for a united state while the TDP demanded that the “flawed” draft Bill be returned to the Centre. The Speaker then adjourned the House for an hour but when it reassembled after over two hours, there was no change in the scene. Deputy Speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who was in the chair, adjourned the proceedings the second time for half an hour. PTI