The winter session of the Telangana Legislative Assembly commenced on Monday in Hyderabad, marked by a brief but notable appearance from the Leader of the Opposition, K Chandrasekhar Rao. The day unfolded with a mix of cordial gestures, the introduction of significant legislation, and spirited debates on a wide array of public issues during the zero hour.
A Brief Appearance and a Gesture of Concern
K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) attended the proceedings only for a short while. In a moment that captured attention, the Leader of the House and Chief Minister, A Revanth Reddy, walked across to KCR on the opposition benches. He enquired about the former chief minister's health and shook hands with him, displaying a gesture of political courtesy. KCR departed the assembly after his brief stay.
Key Bills and Constituency Concerns Take Centre Stage
The opening day saw several important bills being tabled. These included proposals for the expansion of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the removal of the two-child norm for candidates in panchayat elections. During the zero hour, which began after condolence motions for legislators Ramreddy Damodar Reddy and K Lakshma Reddy, over 40 legislators raised issues pertinent to their constituencies.
MLAs from across party lines, including BRS, BJP, AIMIM, CPI, and Congress, participated actively. A prominent demand came from BRS MLA and former minister Gangula Kamalakar, who urged the state government to construct Telangana Bhavans in Tirumala (Andhra Pradesh) and Sabarimala (Kerala) to accommodate devotees from the state facing accommodation problems.
Other constituency-specific issues highlighted included the menace of monkeys and stray dogs, poor sanitation and street lighting in city lanes, and problems related to agricultural procurement. BJP legislator Venkatramana Reddy from Kamareddy appealed to all members to avoid using unparliamentary language, a call echoed by Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu, who advised the BJP to first set its own house in order.
Heated Exchanges and Government's Stand on Key Issues
The session witnessed several moments of uproar and pointed allegations. Remarks by BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy caused a stir when he alleged that the Tanugula check dam was blasted using bombs, drawing parallels to the Medigadda project incident. This led to a heated exchange between BRS and Congress members.
On the welfare front, BJP floor leader Alleti Maheshwar Reddy demanded the creation of a dedicated ministry for the welfare of Gulf NRIs from Telangana, citing miserable conditions faced by workers. BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar stated the government was addressing these issues and warned against fraudulent private agents, directing people to use the government's TOMCOM system.
A significant debate erupted over pending dues for government employees. BRS leader T Harish Rao pressed the government to release the pending six instalments of Dearness Allowance (DA) and implement the Pay Revision Commission (PRC) recommendations. In a sharp retort, Minister Sridhar Babu accused the previous BRS government of having no moral right to speak on the issue, alleging it often failed to pay salaries on time, and asserted the current administration was systematically resolving employees' concerns.
Post-Session Strategy Meeting
After Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar adjourned the House, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy convened a meeting of ministers and MLAs in his chambers. The agenda was to discuss strategy concerning critical inter-state river water sharing disputes and upcoming irrigation projects, indicating the government's preparedness for detailed discussions in the following days of the session.
