What will be keenly watched are the actions of Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and Leader of Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu, two of the three key political players, both of whom are from Seemandhra. The third, Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, is a member of parliament.
"Wait and watch what I am going to do," the chief minister quipped when he was asked at a news conference what he would do in the assembly.
There has been a buzz in political circles that Kiran Reddy will announce his resignation during the debate on Telangana bill. Some even said he would float a new political party but he dismissed it as rumors.
Opposing his own party's decision to bifurcate the state, the chief minister is likely to come out with strong arguments for 'samaikyandhra'. By insisting on voting, he is planning to turn tables on the Telangana lawmakers.
"The opinion of the house will be known only through voting," said Kiran Reddy, who believes any decision of the president would be based on the result of the voting. However, the leaders from Telangana, irrespective of their party affiliations, argue that there is no need for voting as the president has only sought the views of the house.
Political analysts say if the fate of the bill is to be decided through voting, the result is a foregone conclusion given the strength of Seemandhra. Telangana has only 119 legislators in 294-member house.
Speaker N. Manohar, who visited Uttar Pradesh and Bihar recently to study the modalities for the debate on reorganization bills in their assemblies, has also asked members to submit their amendments to the bill. These amendments are likely to be put to vote and may ultimately lead to the bill's defeat.
Thus sparks are set to fly in the legislature as it goes into the final leg of the debate on a bill that will decide the destiny of the state.
