Notwithstanding the clarification from the Centre in the past, the ruling parties in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh – Telangana Rashtra Samithi and YSR Congress party, have been lobbying for increase in the number of assembly seats in their respective states, which has been part of the AP Reorganisation Act.
Sources said the YSRC had taken up this issue with the Centre during the meeting of chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah.
Apparently, the YSRC leadership is of the view that if the legislative council is abolished, the party would be under pressure to accommodate more party leaders in various positions. If the number of MLA seats are increased, more aspirants can be promised party tickets for the next assembly elections.
As per the AP Reorganisation Act, the number of assembly seats was proposed to be increased from 119 to 153 in Telangana and from 175 to 225 in Andhra Pradesh.
However, the Centre is not interested in fulfilling this promise for the simple reason that the Bharatiya Janata Party is not going to get any benefit from increasing the number of assembly seats. Obviously, it doesn’t want the ruling parties in their states to get benefit either.
On Friday, Union minister of state for home G Kishan Reddy reiterated that there was no plan as of now to increase the number of seats in the assemblies of the Telugu states exclusively.
“It will happen along with other states when it is required,” Kishan Reddy said.
He said certain provisions like increase in the number of assembly seats was incorporated in the AP Reorganisation Act unnecessarily.
“The proposal is pending with the home ministry and no decision can be taken on it for now,” the Union minister said.