Stating that the centre had all the powers to carve out a new state under Article 3 of the Constitution, the deputy chief minister rejected the argument of Seemandhra leaders that the state can't be bifurcated by ignoring the view of majority of members of the legislature.
"Seemandhra people were minority and Tamilians were majority in Madras province but a separate Andhra state was still carved out under Article 3," he said.
Senior Congress leader and Panchayat Raj Minister K. Jana Reddy said the resolution moved by the chief minister was unconstitutional. He said under Article 3 of the Constitution, the state legislature has to give only its opinion.