Chandrababu Naidu and Chandrasekhar Rao stand together on seats increase

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his Telangana counterpart K. Chandrasekhar Rao took different stands on many issues in the AP Reorganisation Act, but both the CMs are unanimous on one issue “increasing the number of Assembly seats” in both states.

In a gap of a week, both the Chief Ministers met Prime Minister Narend-ra Modi in New Delhi and pleaded with him for an increase as was promised in the AP Reorgani-sation Act. The Centre has already increased the number of seats in the Legislative Councils of both states.

The Centre has promised in the AP Reorganis-ation Act to increase the Assembly seats from 175 to 225 in AP state and fr-om 119 to 153 in Telangana state. According to this, 50 assembly seats will be increased in AP and 34 Assembly seats in Telangana state.

Both the Chief Ministe-rs are keen on increasing the number of Assembly seats in their respective states before the next general elections in 2019. Mr Naidu and Mr Rao are of the opinion that if the number of Assembly sea-ts is increased, the voter strength in each Assemb-ly constituency will decr-ease. This, they feel, will help them in better management of the elections so as to retain power. Alt-hough Assembly seats will be increased, the nu-mber of Lok Sabha seats will remain the same in the both states.

Meanwhile, some Uni-on ministers expressed different opinions on in-creasing the number of Assembly seats in the two states. In a letter to TRS MP B. Vinod Kumar, minister of state for ho-me Haribhai Chaudary said an increase in the number of Assembly sea-ts in AP and TS will be possible only after 2026. Union urban developme-nt minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said the central government is studying a proposal on this.

YSR Congress MP Mek-apati Rajamohan Reddy recently met the Election Commission. Quoting the EC, he said an increase in the number of assembly seats in AP is possible only after 2026.

At the same time, Union minister Y. Sujana Chowdary along with AP Chief Minister Mr Naidu met Union finance minister Arun Jaitley and discussed the matter.  

Later, Mr Chowdary said Mr Jaitley has assured them to increase the number of Assembly seats before the next General Elections in 2019 and also to amend the Constitution in this respect, if necessary.

Against this backgrou-nd, CMs Naidu and KCR met the Prime Minister separately in a gap of one week and requested him to take steps to increase the Assembly seats in both states before the next General Elections. Both CMs later said PM Modi responded positively to their request.