File photo of YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy.
YSR Congress, which is opposed to bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, today appeared to have got a shot in the arm as JD(U) promised to firm up a common position of 11 parties of an emerging 'Front' on the issue.
"We have made a front. We will try to have one opinion over Andhra Pradesh's division and Telangana after talking with each other. This is what I have told Jagan Mohan," JD(U) president Sharad Yadav said after his meeting with YSR Congress chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in Delhi.
"It's no longer about my party as we have to take everybody along now," Yadav told reporters.
Asked whether he has invited the YSR Congress into the Third Front, Yadav said, "We have not talked about this."
Reddy said Yadav has agreed to discuss the issue with leaders of 11 non-Congress non-BJP parties including Left, AIADMK, Samajwadi Party and Janata Dal (Secular). They will chalk out a strategy on how to deal with the situation on the floor of the House if a discussion on the Bill takes place in Lok Sabha.
"He (Yadav) is going to discuss the matter with other parties who have decided to coordinate on floor management," said the Andhra leader, who was suspended from the Lok Sabha along with 15 other Seemandhra MPs for disrupting House proceedings over Telangana issue.
"We have requested him (Yadav) to positively prevail on the entire 11 parties to ensure that this injustice is stopped. We are just hoping and praying to God that entire opposition would stand together and move against the government to stop this injustice," Reddy said.
The fresh move comes in the wake of the government trying to pass the bill in Parliament but seven parties including the BJP have questioned the manner in which the controversial Telangana Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha.
"We have come here to request Sharad Yadav to fight against the injustice. Because Parliament is going ahead and breaking an unwilling state... a state which has clearly passed a resolution against the division," Reddy said.
Reddy questioned the manner in which the Bill was introduced in the Lower House.
He said Speaker Meira Kumer did not seek the House's permission before admitting the Bill.
"Speaker should have said... I want to see the Ayes and I want to see the Noes. Depending on the number of hands raised... if the hands raised are more in number for introduction of the Bill, then the Bill stands introduced. If the number of hands raised so against the Bill, then the Bill cannot be introduced."
"But such formality was not followed. Speaker directly came, within ten seconds, without asking anybody... yet the Bill was introduced. In no democracy, does it actually takes place. I am protesting against this... all parties, including BJP, SP... all are protesting against this," Reddy said.