Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Errabelli Dayakar Rao addressing a press conference in Warangal on Wednesday.
Warangal: Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Errabelli Dayakar Rao condemned what he termed as the ‘stubborn attitude’ of the Union government towards the proposal to increase the number of Assembly constituencies in the Telugu States, and demanded that the BJP leaders from Telangana spell out their stand on the issue. Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, he questioned the Central government as to why the number of Assembly seats has not been increased in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh despite demand.
“The BJP government at the Centre is trying to obstruct the growth of the Telangana and the Andhra Pradesh States. It is arbitrary to say that the seats will be increased only after declaring the census in the Gazette after 2026. Why there are obstacles to the Telugu States that were not there in Jammu and Kashmir? According to Article 170 of the Constitution, and Section 26 (1) of the AP Reorganisation Act, the number of the Assembly seats must be increased to 225 from 175 in AP and to 153 from 119 in Telangana,” he said and opined that the Centre can increase the seats by removing the word ‘subject’ (subject to Article 170) from section 26 of the AP Reorganisation Act and adding the word ‘not withstanding’ (whatever is in Article 170). MLA T Rajaiah, Warangal Mayor Gundu Sudharani and other TRS leaders were present at the press meet.
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