The government of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy on Monday decided to abolish the state's Legislative Council. The decision is expected to exacerbate the standoff between the Jagan government and opposition parties such as the TDP and BJP, which began on the issue of having three capitals for Andhra Pradesh.
The formal government decision to abolish the Legislative Council was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Jagan on Monday.
The move comes amid a stalemate in passage of bills as the TDP has a majority in the Legislative Council. The ruling YSRCP has just nine members in the 58-member council, while the TDP has a total of 28 members. The YSRCP is expected to gain a majority of seats in the Legislative Council only by 2021 when a number of legislators retire at the end of their six-year term.
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In the ongoing Assembly session, two key bills passed by the Jagan government in the Assembly—the Decentralisation Bill and AP Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) Repeal Bill—have been stalled in the Legislative Council. The Legislative Council chairman had referred the bills to a select committee, which could mean the legislations could be stalled for at least three months.
The Legislative Council can only be dissolved once Parliament passes a bill to this effect. The TDP has opposed the proposal and is boycotting the Assembly session.
The YSRCP is also reportedly working on a 'Plan B' scenario by planning to lure TDP MLCs to its side. Two TDP MLCs have already joined the YSRCP.
"At least 17 out of the 23 TDP MLAs are ready to jump ship. Should we say anything about their MLCs?" Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, a key aide to Jagan and adviser on public affairs, remarked on Sunday.