In yet another example of the widening gap between Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and his Cabinet colleagues, a group of Ministers reportedly expressed displeasure over the government’s failure to ensure smooth functioning of the House.
Deputy Chief Minister C. Damodar Raj Narasimha and PCC president Botcha Satyanarayana met Panchayat Raj Minister K. Jana Reddy in his chambers to discuss the frequent disruption of the House proceedings and the treasury benches’ failure to get the House going.
They were concerned over the lack of a floor strategy on the Chief Minister’s part to pre-empt frequent disruptions by the Opposition parties, mainly the TRS and the TDP. Ministers – N. Utam Kumar Reddy and M. Mukesh Goud, Government Whip Arepalli Mohan, former Minister J. C. Diwakar Reddy and MLA Bhikshmaiah Goud were also present.
Regular feature
“Disruption of the proceedings has become a regular feature. It is the responsibility of the Leader of the House to take into confidence Ministers and Congress members and make an attempt to run the House,” a senior Minister later remarked. A Minister recalled that Mr. Kiran Reddy seemed to have forgotten his own suggestion that all the Ministers should meet at 8 a.m. daily on the Assembly premises to discuss the floor strategy. These developments assume significance because leaders inimical to Mr. Reddy have become active after their recent visit to New Delhi where the high command lent an ear to their complaints against him. This was evident when they openly criticised D. L. Ravindra Reddy’s dismissal from the Cabinet.
Chief Whip Gandra Venkataramana Reddy said the Opposition parties had to be blamed for stalling the proceedings. “Opposition parties are coming up with different agenda and it is difficult to discuss each issue raised by them. Unless they come to a common platform, the proceedings will continue to suffer. There should be a provision to deduct one day’s salary of the members, if the House is adjourned for the day without transacting any business,” he said.
