Hyderabad, Dec 12 (IANS)

The winter session of the Andhra Pradesh assembly began Thursday amid protests over the formation of Telangana state.

As soon as the house met, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) legislators from the Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra) region surrounded the speaker's podium opposing the central government's decision to split the state.

They raised slogans of 'Jai Samaikyandhra' (United Andhra) and demanded that the house take up their adjournment motion over the issue.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) legislators also rushed to the podium and raised counter slogans of 'Jai Telangana'.

The YSR Congress also moved an adjournment motion for passing a resolution to urge the central government to keep the state united. The party wanted the house to pass the resolution before the president sent the bill for formation of Telangana state to the assembly.

Speaker Nadendla Manohar repeatedly appealed to the protesting members to resume their seats and allow the house to pay tributes to former South African president Nelson Mandela.

The house was later adjourned for the day after paying tributes to Mandela and to some former legislators who died recently.

Earlier, TRS, TDP and Bharatiya Janata Party's Telangana legislators paid tributes at Telangana Martyrs' memorial near the assembly building.

Police have made tight security around the assembly building in view of the threats by some groups opposing the bifurcation to lay siege on the assembly.

CPI-M legislator J. Ranga Reddy reached the assembly on a bicycle, demanding the government to release funds for the sub-plan for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. He also wanted the session to be extended by at least five days.

The winter session will continue till Dec 20. Though the Telangana bill is not on the agenda, the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) has decided to meet again once the bill reaches the assembly.