If reports from New Delhi are to be believed, President of India Pranab Mukherjee is unlikely to give extension to the State assembly to debate the draft Telangana bill.
According to sources, the draft Bill, sent by the President will have to reach New Delhi by February 3 after debate.
Though the deadline for returning the Bill was January 23, it was extended by another week till January 30 following the extension of time sought by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy.
Though Kiran sought three more weeks’ time, sources said the President is unlikely to oblige the request.
However, whatever may be the response from the Rashtrapathi Bhavan to the Chief Minister’s plea, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is gearing up to see that the Bill is finalized in the GOM’s meeting on February 4.
Meanwhile, State Chief Secretary P K Mohanty contacted the MHA officials to sought information about the format to be used for sending the Assembly’s opinion on the Bill.
This is also being construed as an indication that the second extension of time sought by the Chief Minister for the debate in the Assembly may not be granted.
