Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Bhaskara Rao, MP, who has sought the debate, told reporters that as per convention the Speaker should not be in the chair when the House took up the debate as his name was linked with the controversial dinner.

Balayogi had attended the controversial dinner last month in Khammam district represented in the Lok Sabha by Bhaskara Rao. Hosted by supporters of a state minister T Nageshwar Rao, the dinner had on its menu meat of wild boar, deer, peacock and sambhar.

The State Congress has been at the forefront in demanding a CBI inquiry into the episode which caused a storm in the Assembly. By seeking to raise a debate in Parliament, the Congress wants to keep the controversy alive and put theTelugu Desam Party on the defensive. It will also be interesting to watch how the BJP which has been enjoying the TDP's support in Parliament handles the issue.

Bhaskara Rao said that the Congress would soon expose the nexus between the TDP and the BJP and dispel the impression that the former was giving only issue-based support to the Vajpayee Government. People in Andhra Pradesh, especially the minorities, were aware that the TDP had not said a word against the failure of the government, he added.