The YSR Congress MLAs staged a walkout from the Andhra Pradesh Assembly today after their demand for voting on the draft Telangana Bill was rejected.

The YSRC action drew immediate flak from all parties which alleged that the former was running away from a debate on the draft raft AP Reorganisation Bill 2013.

The day began with the YSRC members trooping into the Well of the House seeking a vote on the draft Bill ahead of the debate. This led to adjournment of the proceedings for half-an-hour.

When the House reassembled, YSRC floor leader Y.S. Vijaya announced that they were walking out in protest against refusal to take up voting on the draft Bill.

She alleged that the ruling Congress and the principal Opposition Telugu Desam Party were colluding to divide the state.

This led to sharp rebuttal from Finance Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy and TDP MLA Payyavula Kesav, who accused the YSRC of running away from the debate.

“Instead of taking part in the debate and expressing their views on the bifurcation issue, the YSRC was running away from the House. It only shows the party lacks sincerity,” Anam alleged.

Kesav too castigated the YSRC saying the party spoke one thing in public domain but shied away from speaking the same in the Assembly.

Refuting Vijaya’s allegation that the TDP was hand-in-glove with the Congress on bifurcation issue, Kesav recalled that it was late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy who sowed the seeds for the separate statehood movement.

“It was YSR who announced on the floor of the House that the Congress was not against the formation of Telangana state,” he pointed out.

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