Now, it's BJP versus Telugu Desam in Rajya Sabha

Hyderabad: After Congress versus Telugu Desam, now it is BJP versus Telugu Desam.

Expecting that the Private bill on Special Status to AP introduced by Congress MP K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao in Rajya Sabha will come up for voting on Friday, the Congress high command issued whip to all its Rajya Sabha MPs. In the whip, the high command said that all the MPs of Rajya Sabha should attend the House on Thursday and Friday without fail and vote in favour of the private bill when it comes up for voting.

The TD on Wednesday announced its support to the private bill introduced by Mr Ramachandra Rao. At the same time, the BJP is planning to support another private bill, going to be introduced by YSR Congress MP V. Vijay Sai Reddy on seeking amendments to the Anti Defection Act.

Private bills of Congress MP Mr Ramachandra Rao and YSR congress MP Vijay Sai Reddy may create further strain in the political relations between the BJP and the TD.

The Congress leaders said that they have thrown both the BJP and the TD on the defensive with their private bill on special status issue. The BJP will suffer loss of face if the TD supports the private bill on special status. Similarly, the TD will fall on the back foot if the BJP supports the private bill on amendments to Anti Defection Act.  

The BJP and the TD leaders at the state level have been openly criticising each other on some issues and this may now graduate to the central level with the latest political developments.

A BJP leader from AP asked what is wrong if the party supports the private bill on Anti Defection Act and added that their Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu has already said that the present Anti Defection Act needs some amendments to strengthen itself.

The TD leaders said that their party will support the interests of state irrespective of which party raises the issue. With the latest developments, Congress MP Mr Ramachandra Rao and YSR Congress MP Vijaya Sai Reddy have become key persons in the ongoing Monsoon Session of Rajya Sabha.

Mr Ramachandra Rao, meanwhile, wrote to Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday requesting support for his private bill on special status to AP. In the letter, Mr Ramachandra Rao has reminded the speeches of BJP leaders in Rajya Sabha at the time of discussions on the AP Reorganisation bill in the past.

On the demand of the members, the then prime minister announced Special Category status to AP for a period of five years. But the BJP leaders, including Mr Venkaiah Naidu, demanded that it be extended to 10 years. They also said that after BJP comes to power they will extend the period of special status. But after two years in power, the central government headed by the BJP has not even given special status to AP.