The entire Assembly was wrapped in an unprecedented security blanket for the budget session with policemen in uniform and mufti swarming all over the premises.
The huge posse of policemen prompted both the CPI and CPI (M) floor leaders G. Mallesh and Julakanti Ranga Reddy to observe that there were more police personnel than the MLAs and the MLCs.
Visitors were already barred from entering the premises, about three years ago on security grounds and a number of restrictions imposed on movement of media personnel. On Wednesday too, media persons again had a tough time entering the Old Assembly Hall (where the Governor addressed the joint session), passing through several layers of security. Telugu Desam members came walking to the Assembly carrying lanterns to highlight power crisis while BJP MLAs came on bicycles from the Old MLA quarters.
