KCR fast likely to impact Andhra Pradesh Winter Session

Hyderabad, Dec 6 : The Winter Session of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly beginning here tomorrow is likely to be heavily overcast by the ongoing fast by TRS President K Chandrasekhara Rao.

Mr Rao's fast for separate Telangana state entered the eight day today at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS). Many political leaders, including the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee President D Srinivas and AICC Secretary K Kesava Rao met him in a bid to calm down the protest.

The TRS polit bureau which gave a green signal for Mr Rao's indefinite fast from November 29, met their president in NIMS late tonight amid reports that he had a slight fever.

Amid the 48-hr bandh called by the TRS from midnight yesterday, the AP Assembly would meet under a heavy security blanket with Hyderabad City Police Commissioner enforcing section 144 within a km radius of the State Legislature under the Saifabad police station.

While the first day would be reserved for adopting a condolence resolution for former chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, the Telangana issue is likely to be the main focus from the second day of the 13-day session likely to concluded on December 23.

Chief Minister K Rosaiah, within hours of announcing a bill on Hyderabad city status at a media conference, has already sent notice to Speaker Kiran Kumar Reddy to lift the bill in the Assembly agenda, if possible on December 8 itself.

The Bill which only adds meat to government order passed by Reddy, clearly puts Hyderabad city within the six zone for recruitment to government institutions and education.

The State Government, which was bringing the Bill to negate the perception that Hyderabad was a Free Zone for recruitment purpose, had also moved the Apex court to review its order declaring Hyderabad Free Zone for police recruitment.

Hectic efforts were on, both at the political and official level to bring around Telangana TRS President for a dialogue to find a solution to the vexed issue.

Congress MPs from Telangana would meet UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi tomorrow.

The meeting of APCC President Srinivas and AICC Secretary Kesava Rao with Mr Rao at NIMS tonight was also a part of the exercise, as both leaders would be in Delhi tomorrow to meet Ms Gandhi.

--UNI