50-day session, a first

Lengthy sitting may impact schemes like Bhagiratha

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao stunned the Opposition on Thursday when he announced that the winter session of the State Assembly will commence from Friday and run for 50 days so that each and every issue raised can be discussed and debated.

Never in the history of the TS legislature, or for that matter in the undivided AP legislature, has a session stretched to 50 days. Even the Budget session, which is crucial and usually somewhat lengthy, is held for only 18 working days.

The CM proposed the lengthy session when the Business Advisory Committee met in the Speaker’s chambers on Thursday.

The proposal was welcomed by Leader of the Opposition K. Jana Reddy, who said he was also prepared to attend a 100-day session.

The Chief Minister also introduced some changes in the conduct of the House proceedings. Mr Rao said had no objection to taking up adjournment notices to discuss urgent matters provided they are raised only after completion of Question Hour.

It remains to be seen whether Mr Rao can really run the House for such a long time. Several developmental projects such as Mission Bhagiratha have to be completed by this year-end and ministers, legislators and officials will be needed to ensure that the work on these projects in various parts of the state does not slacken.

In fact, such projects pick up pace in November and December when funds earmarked for them are released.

Opposition members informed Deputy Speaker Padma Devender Reddy, who chaired the meeting in the absence of indisposed Speaker S. Madhusudana Chary, of the issues they wanted to raise in the session.

The CM added some more and said that the government was prepared to take up any issue for discussion but House proceedings should be held smoothly and without commotion.

The CM expressed anger at one point over the Congress’ organising Chalo Assembly on Friday, the opening day of the session. He said the government will not tolerate lawlessness in the form of agitations and will deal with it firmly. He said when the government ws prepared to discuss any issue, including agriculture, it was not proper for the party to organise agitations.

Mr Jana Reddy however told him there will be no change in the scheduled programme and they will stick to it.