LS passes Andhra Legislative Council Bill

The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council Bill after a spirited debate and some resistance from TDP, and UPA’s Left partners — the CPI(M) and CPI.

Earlier, the CPI(M) moved a motion against the introduction of the Bill, but it was defeated. The Bill, which had been moved by Law Minister H.R. Bhardwaj, was later passed by the House.

The Bill for the creation of the Legislative Council first ran into a roadblock from CPI(M) member V. Radhakrishnan, who said no useful purpose would be served by passing it and that it would be a drain on the exchequer. The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council had been abolished in 1985.