The Telugu Desam and Praja Rajyam allowed their non-Telangana MLAs to try and block an Assembly resolution that sought to declare that Hyderabad was not a “free zone” for the purpose of state employment.
But adroit floor management by the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, saw the resolution being adopted to delete Para 14(f) from the Presidential Order. Para 14(f) prevents reserving certain police jobs for Hyderabad locals.
Both parties had agreed on Wednesday at an all-party meeting to back the resolution. But when the motion was put to vote in the Assembly on Thursday, PR members trooped into the Well and TD members from Andhra and Rayalaseema raised slogans opposing the resolution and demanding a discussion.
The Deputy Speaker, Mr Nadendla Manohar, quickly put the resolution to voice vote and declared that it had been passed. The Deputy Speaker did not allow the members to press for division and adjourned the House. There are 107 Congress MLAs, 53 TD and 16 Praja Rajyam legislators, totalling 176 in a House of 294.
Earlier, Mr Rosaiah sensed that non-Telangana MLAs were making moves to scuttle the resolution and deputed a team of ministers and senior leaders to convince them to support the measure. He personally conveyed to them that the apex court order is confined to Hyderabad city police, and would not harm the interests of other districts in the state.
Even Telangana MLAs who were in support of the resolution tried in vain to convince their colleagues from other regions.
The team deputed by Mr Rosaiah approached the Seema-Andhra MLAs with the threat of the TRS chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, gaining political support if they did not back it. “Already he (Mr Rao) is making statements on revival of the (statehood) agitation. Why do you give him a stick to beat us?” was the message conveyed to the Andhra-Seema MLAs.(DC)
