For the first time, two Telugu Chief Ministers- N Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh) and K Chandrasekhar Rao (Telangana) seems to be determined to work together on increase number of Assembly seats.Till now, on most of issues both of them have been taking extremely divergent postures.
They said to be `impatience’ with the negligent attitude of the Centre on this issue. Expecting number of seats would be increased by 2019 polls, both of them have encouraged `defections’ from other parties indiscriminately, assuring both their own party leaders and defected leaders that their interests would be taken care of with the increased number of Assembly seats.
But, the centre has almost indicated that it would not be possible to increase number of Assembly seats before 2019 polls, as that would necessitated a constitutional amendment. This makes both the Chief Minister worried fearing that may results to revolt in their respective party ranks at the time of polls.
They are insisting that Cetre should come to their rescue with a simple amendment to the AP Reorganisation Act which would allow constitution of a Delimitation Commission that will go into the increase in the number of Assembly seats. If that happens, the number of Assembly seats in TS would increase from the present 119 to 153, where as in AP go up from the present 175 to 225.
Two chief ministers, who met at the wedding reception of Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar’s son in New Delhi, two days ago have reportedly decided to build joint pressure on the Centre and also requested Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who was also present there, to take initiative in this regard.
It may be recalled that last year after holding a meeting with Home and Law ministers, Venkaiah Naidu announced that the Centre has started the process of increasing Assembly seats. But, later the Law ministry refuted such development.
Chandrasekhar Rao has planned to meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh formally yesterday. But he could not meet him in North Block due to his preoccupation with the Uttar Pradesh polls. However, the two meet at this reception, where Rao asked him to take steps to begin the process of the long-pending delimitation of Assembly segments underway. The Home Minister has reportedly without giving him any specific assurance, only said that he would look into the issue once UP assembly polls are over.
