Telangana takes exception to Centre's advice to Aandhra Pradesh Governor

 The Telangana government has taken strong exception to the Centre's reported advice to the AP Governor to monitor the probe into the cash-for-vote scandal and decided to "protest" against the move.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday met the Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, ESL Narasimhan, at the Raj Bhavan and conveyed the Telangana government's "strong" views on the subject. Sources close to Rao said that some chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states as well as chiefs of regional parties called him up today to "express solidarity" with him and strongly opposed the Centre's reported move, saying that it is against the federal structure of the country and state's self-respect.

"They appealed to the Telangana Chief Minister to protest strongly. The Telangana Chief Minister also told them that if needed, he is ready to sit on a hunger strike in Delhi to protest against the move, if the people of the state so desire, to protect the state's self-respect," sources said. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had on Monday reportedly said the Governor can summon police chiefs of the two states and ask them to report to him in the case citing Section 8 of the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act, which created the separate state of Telangana.

Under the Act, Hyderabad would remain the common capital of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for a period of ten years (from June 2, 2014); after which it would become part and parcel of Telangana. The Andhra Pradesh state government has insisted on implementation of Section 8 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, ever since a Telangana based Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA A Revanth Reddy was arrested by the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau for allegedly offering a bribe to a nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson, to vote in favour of TDP MLC nominee during the Telangana Legislative Council polls on June1.