Revanth to unite southern states on delimitation bill

Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy will try to bring together all south Indian states, Union territories and smaller states towards building a consensus to oppose and stop the Narendra Modi govt in Parliament from passing the delimitation exercise bill with a 50% increase of seats on a pro-rata basis.Replying to queries after his media conference on the proposed women's quota bill and delimitation on Monday, Revanth Reddy said he will write letters to chief ministers of all southern states and small ones like Punjab and Delhi and Union territories, all important political leaders seeking their cooperation. "It is time to take a firm decision. During the Telangana movement also, support was sought and many states came forward and supported the formation of a new state. Likewise, if we get numbers on our side, we can stop BJP from implementing its plan in Parliament itself. I will go for a campaign to West Bengal and explain to them the political conspiracy of PM Modi govt. All like-minded states on this issue should come together," he said. "The southern states are serving as the nation's economic powerhouses while the northern ones as political powerhouses," he added. Revanth said he would, along with other leaders, try to unite the southern states, as well as the smaller states, on this issue. "We will see how they will manage to get the bill passed in Parliament," he added.The CM stressed that number is important and not percentage in the delimitation of the constituencies.The CM reminded that the Vajpayee govt fell because of being short of one vote. "Without the numbers, no one in politics engages in negotiations with anyone else. If the delimitation of constituencies is implemented based on a 50% population ratio, Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay will not get Union minister posts and may have to stand as peons outside Modi's residence as their representation would no longer be required," he alleged.