The bill on the formation of Telangna state is expected to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha on the 12th of this month. The BJP has said it will support the Telangana Bill in Parliament as it has not changed its stand on the new state's formation. BJP's Andhra Pradesh chief G Krishna Reddy said this in New Delhi. He said the stand of the national leadership of the party on the issue is the same and the party will support the bill whenever it comes up in Parliament. He however said, the BJP leaders from Andhra Pradesh will seek amendments to the Bill to include an economic package along with water and other packages for Seemandhra region.

The bill which was sent back by the Andhra Pradesh Legislature after discussions in the two Houses, got the Cabinet's approval at its special meeting held in New Delhi last evening. The Cabinet also decided not to accede to the Seemandhra region's demanad for making Hyderabad a Union Territory. The mega city will remain as joint capital for a maximum period of ten years as decided earlier. The Rayal Telangana proposal was also shelved by the Cabinet.

The bill will be sent to the President for his consent. In another development, the Supreme court yesterday refused to stay the tabling of Telangana bill in Parliament. The Apex court was hearing a batch of petitions filed by L. Payyavulu Keshav, Telugu Desam MLA, and several others.