Hyderabad: In a major confrontation with the Centre, the Andhra Pradesh assembly today rejected the State Reorganisation Bill sent to it by the President of India for creation of a separate state of Telangana.
The assembly was immediately adjourned sine die.
The assembly passed by voice vote a resolution moved by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy seeking to reject the State Reorganisation Bill.
The assembly has been witnessing a deadlock over the controversial Telangana bill, with the chief minister himself and the ministers from Seemandhra stoutly opposing the state's bifurcation.
The President had extended the deadline from January 23 till Jan 30, but the deadlock continued, and ultimately the House rejected the Telangana bill.
On Wednesday night Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy dared the central government to table the bill in the same form in parliament.
A belligerent chief minister said he would quit politics if parliament admitted the bill in the same form as it was sent to the state legislature.
Talking to reporters after both houses of the state legislature were adjourned without any debate on the bill for the third consecutive day, Kiran Reddy alleged that the central government deceived the president by sending an incomprehensive bill to him.
"The bill in its present form will not even be admitted in parliament," said Kiran Reddy, who is strongly opposed to formation of a separate Telangana state.
The Group of Ministers is likely to meet in Delhi Feb 4 to finalise the Telangana bill. Congress leaders have indicated the bill might be tabled in parliament during the second week of February.
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