Telugu Desam Party, the main opposition in Andhra Pradesh, which had been successfully stalling the introduction of two important bills by the YSR Congress government in the legislative council since Tuesday morning, received a rude shock in the evening.
In an unusual move, legislative council chairman Mohd Ahmed Sharif gave permission to urban development minister Botsa Satyanarayana and finance minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy to introduce the two bills – one on repeal of APCRDA Act and another on creation of three capitals – in the council.
Even as the TDP members were in a state of shock, the two ministers introduced the bills. The TDP members rushed to the podium and opposed the decision to allow introduction of the bills, but it was too late.
In the morning, the TDP, which has 28 members in the 58-member council as against only nine members of the YSRC, thwarted the attempts of the ministers to introduce the two bills and initiate a debate on the same.
TDP member Yanamala Ramakrishnudu issued a notice to the council chairman under Rule 71 of the legislative procedure seeking a discussion on disapproving the government bills. Since the TDP members were more than the required strength of 20, the chairman allowed the discussion.
But YSRC members, apart from 20 ministers of Jagan cabinet, raised a protest demanding that the government be allowed to introduce the bills. They even stormed the podium several times and the chairman had to adjourn the House for five times.
One does not know what had happened during these breaks, but when the council reassembled again at 6 pm, the chairman suddenly announced that he was permitting the two ministers to introduce the bills, much to the shock of the TDP leaders.
Sources said senior YSRC leaders V Vijay Sai Reddy and Y V Subba Reddy, who were watching the proceedings form the gallery, held discussion with the council chairman and “managed” him to allow the bills.
It is also learnt the YSRC leaders also held secret talks with at least a dozen TDP MLCs and convinced them to allow the government bills. Apparently, they were threatened that they would lose all the privileges if the Jagan government goes ahead with the abolition of the legislative council.