Centre okays 58 members in Andhra Pradesh council
The strength of the AP Legislative Council enhanced from the present 50 to 58
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-12-25 07:18 GMT
Hyderabad: The Union Cabinet, which met on Wednesday, approved bringing an amendment to the AP Reorganisation Act for enhancing the strength of the AP Legislative Council from the present 50 to 58 in tune with the total members of the Assembly.
Earlier, the AP Assembly had passed a unanimous resolution seeking enhancement of MLCs in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. Currently, the AP Assembly has a strength of 175 MLAs and as per statute, the corresponding strength of the Legislative Council could be 58, against the existing 50 members.
Union minister for parliamentary affairs M. Venkaiah Naidu said the amendment became necessary, but the government is yet to take a decision on whether to issue an Ordinance or introduce a Bill to this effect in the next Budget Session.
The Legislative Council biennial polls are scheduled to be held in February. In case the Centre brings the amendment by way of an Ordinance, the Election Commission needs to notify the remaining enhanced seats also.
He also said the Centre is open to address the anomalies in the AP Bifurcation Act with almost everyone agreeing that it was passed in haste. With regard to correcting another anomaly like allowing six Rajya Sabha members to spend their MPLADS funds in their native state, Mr Venkaiah Naidu said, “Already there is a broad consensus on this, but we are awaiting a formal proposal from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat”.
Two Rajya Sabha members belonging to AP were allotted to Telangana and four members belonging to Telangana were allotted to AP. However, TRS MP B. Vinod Kumar took objection and said the Centre should not work only for AP. “We have no objection to this amendment, but there are many things to rectify,” he said.