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On 2020, 27th July, the government of Andhra Pradesh decided to abolish the state legislative council. The Andhra Pradesh Assembly passed a statutory resolution seeking for the abolition of the State Legislative Council. YSRCP government (Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party), failed to pass two important bills according to the plan to set three capitals within the states. These bills are opposed by the TDP (Telugu Desam Party) dominated upper house, and it serves as the reason for abolishing the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council. This decision was strongly opposed by the members of the Legislative Council, and they sent the proposal to the “Select Committee” for further resolution. 

Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council: History 

Since the creation of the post-independent India, Andhra Pradesh has worked under the unicameral structure mentioned in the Indian Constitution. In December 1956, The State Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh passed a resolution seeking to establish a Legislative Council. The Legislative Council was finally set up on 1st July 1958 following the constitution of India under President Dr Rajendra Prasad.

In the year 1985, Andhra Pradesh was considered the first state to seek the abolition of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad). The reason for the abolition was described as it is unnecessary, an extra burden on the budget of the state and creating an unnecessary delay in passing the important rules passed by the State Legislative Assembly. However, the proposal was criticized by the then opposition party named Telugu Desam Party, which said that it was merely a techno eye of the ruling party to avoid the opposition and hold the exclusive power in the upper house of the state. However, the Parliament abolished the state legislative council by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council (Abolition) Act, in 1985. 

Subsequent attempts were taken for the revival of the Vidhan Parishad. Finally, Dr. Marri Chenna Reddy won the state election and proposed for the revival of the state legislative council. The Parliament passed legislation that authorized the settlement of the Legislative Council. 

Again in 2020, the state decided to abolish the State Legislative Council, for it is creating some obstacles to passing the vital rules and regulations of the state.

Argument against having Legislative Council by the Andhra Pradesh government and its major cause

Many arguments happened in this particular issue of abolishing the legislative council of Andhra Pradesh.

  • The current chief minister of Andhra Pradesh did not want the legislative council. The YSRCP, which was founded by the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, Jagan Mohan Reddy, had a smaller majority in the legislative council. For this reason, the state assembly was facing difficulties in passing three vital bills in the Parliament.
  • The main cause of the abolishing the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council with the three major bills being stuck in the state legislative council. These bills were mainly focused on the establishment of three capitals in the state. 
  • This particular proposal was strongly opposed by the opposition parties, namely “Telugu Desam Party”, and the opposition party referred the bills to the select committee for further discussion. 
  • Legislative council consisted of nine members and the ruling party was facing difficulties with the other 58 members in the majority position. The opposition TDP has 28 members. The ruling party can only get the majority in 2021 when the opposition members will retire, and then he can get the power to pass the bills easily.

List of States having Legislative Council 

The state legislative assembly is the statutory body in the constitution of India. Having a statutory legislative council is mentioned to be mandatory in the constitution of India. Some states of India have previously abolished their legislative council, and some of the states still have the legislative council. 

Recently, six states have had their legislative councils. They are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh. These are the list of States having a Legislative Council.

Conclusion 

Although there are several arguments against having Legislative Council by the Andhra Pradesh government, the government further passes a resolution to keep the legislative council. It was proposed by Buggana Rajendranath Reddy, the minister of finance and legislative affairs. This is because the Parliament was delaying the decision to abolish the legislative council.