Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh Assembly was adjourned for the day on Thursday after its proceedings were paralysed over the Telangana statehood issue with TDP MLAs shouting slogans in favour of a unified state while BJP and CPI demanded a separate state.
Telugu Desam Party MLAs from Andhra-Rayalaseema regions started shouting slogans in support of a unified state, as soon as the proceedings began this morning. BJP and CPI members raised counter-slogans, in support of a separate Telangana.
`Jai Unified Andhra Pradesh` and `Jai Telangana` slogans reverberated in the House. Order was not restored despite the first adjournment for 30 minutes.
Senior Congress MLA and former minister JC Diwakar Reddy shouted "Jai Andhra Pradesh" while he entered as the House reassembled.
Some other Congress MLAs from the Andhra-Rayalaseema regions too sought to raise the issue but deputy speaker Nadendla Manohar adjourned the House for 30 minutes again.
Manohar invited floor leaders of all parties for a meeting in his chamber to resolve the issue.
BJP and CPI gave notices for an adjournment motion for a discussion on the issue, but deputy speaker disallowed it.
Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu said the statehood issue could be discussed during debate on budget, but it could not pacify the members.
TDP MLAs remained in the well even when the House reassembled after two adjournments, which forced Manohar to adjourn the House for the day.
Telangana MLAs of Congress, TDP and TRS have boycotted the budget session.
PTI
