Amaravati (AP): The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on Monday passed a resolution setting in motion the process for abolishing the state Legislative Council, few days after Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy had questioned the need for the Upper House of the state Legislature.
The YSRCP government, which enjoys a strong 151-member majority in the 175-seat Assembly will now move a Bill to repeal the Council
For the Council to be abolished, the Assembly will have to pass a resolution by a minimum two-thirds majority. The YSRCP is in a position to do so.
Once passed in the state Assembly, the resolution will have to be sent to the governor for his approval and then sent to the Centre, which will prepare a Bill and present it in the Parliament.
The entire process can take months, during which the Council will continue to function.
With just nine members, the ruling YSR Congress is in minority in the 58-member Legislative Council. The opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has an upper hand with 28 members and the ruling party could get a majority in the House only in 2021 when a number of opposition members will retire at the end of their six-year term.
The move by the Andhra Pradesh cabinet came after the YS Jaganmohan Reddy government last week failed to pass in the Upper House of the state legislature two crucial Bills related to its plan of having three capitals for the state.
Read: Naidu meets AP Guv, demands action against YSRCP over Council issue
Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council Chairman M A Sharrif on January 22 referred to a select committee the two bills -- AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill, 2020, and the AP Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) Act (Repeal) Bill -- for deeper examination.
The chairman had said that he was using his discretionary powers under Rule 154 while referring the Bills to the select panel in line with the demand of the TDP.
Following this, the chief minister had told the Assembly, "We need to seriously think whether we need to have such a House which appears to be functioning with only political motives. It is not mandatory to have the Council, which is our own creation, and it is only for our convenience."
"So let us discuss the issue further on Monday and take a decision on whether or not to continue the Council," he had said.
In fact, the YSRC had on December 17 first threatened to abolish the Council when it became clear that the TDP was bent on blocking two Bills related to the creation of a separate Commission for SCs and conversion of all government schools into English medium.
As the Legislature was adjourned sine dine on December 17, no further action was taken. But last week, the issue cropped up again as the TDP remained firm on its stand on opposing the three-capitals plan.
The YSRC managed to get two TDP members to its side, but the government failed to get the three capitals Bills passed in the Council.
"What will be the meaning of governance if the House of Elders does not allow good decisions to be taken in the interest of people and block enactment of laws? We need to seriously think about it Whether we should have such a House or do away with it," the chief minister had said in the Assembly.
Read: Hurdle for Jagan's '3-capital' move as AP Council adopts TDP resolution
