There is nothing new about the resolution the Andhra Pradesh Assembly adopted today urging the centre to implement all the provisions in the AP Reorganization Act. 2014. What surprises one is a point that lies tucked in the list of unimplemented issues of the Act. The issue is the implementation of “Section 8”.
Why has this provision been included in the list is a puzzle. Rest of the issues do not bother anyone. This provision, however, has potential to create tension between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Because, Section 8 of the APR Act,2014 deals with the special power the governor of the two state can exercise in times of tension. Why the CM is talking about Governor’s special powers when there is no problem that compels invocation of Section 8. The provision has been strongly opposed by Telangana chief minister. The TRS even demanded the scrapping of the provision.
This ‘section 8’ had created a lot of heat in 2015 when the cash- for- vote controversy was at its peak. Following the arrest of TDP MLA Revanth Reddy in the cash for vote scam, the Telugu Desam Party, which apprehended some more trouble, had demanded the centre to invoke Section 8 of APRA and empower Governor with special powers of controlling law and order in Hyderabad, the joint capital of Andhra Pradeh and Telangana. The immediate provocation was the allegation that the Telangana government had resorted telephone tapping of important functionaries in AP government, including the phones of chief minister Naidu. The TDP then went to the extent of accusing governor ESL Narasimhan of becoming “puppet” at the hands of Telangana chief minister K Chadrasekhar Rao. TDP launched its campaign for ‘Section 8’ in the backdrop of Telangana Anti-Corrution Bureau’s sting operation on TDP MLA Revanth Reddy, who offered Rs 50 lakh to nominated MLA Elvis Stepheson before the elections to Legislative Council.
To prevent further negative fallout Naidu demanded empowering governor with special powers under Section 8 and bring the police under the direct control of Raj Bhavan. The AP CM even met Prime Minister Modi, union home minister Rajnath Singh to press for the invocation of section 8 and prevent TS government from abusing it powers. Later a delegation led by deputy CM KE Krishnamurthy also met Rashtrapati also with the same demand.
What way the demand for invocation of Section 8 in today’s resolution, adopted by the Assembly, relevant now? Is Naidu expecting some trouble from Telangana government ? or Was it that chief minister Naidu still treats Section 8 as a provision that remains unfulfilled?
