The Budget session of the Assembly beginning today may be devoid of the usual rancour due to the likely absence of the members of the YSR Congress Party (YSRC) but it is not going to be free from trouble altogether.
The YSRCP had boycotted the Assembly session held in November 2017.
The decision of the Telugu Desam and the BJP to buttress the respective claims on the implementation of A.P. Reorganisation Act (APRA) and the Special Category Status (SCS) is set to bring into sharp focus their uneasy relationship, which deteriorated in the wake of the presentation of the Union Budget, and probably enable the people to better understand the evolving situation.
The TDP has alleged that its hopes of getting significant allocations in the Union Budget were dashed and it could no longer keep quiet on the injustice, accusing the BJP-led NDA government of completely brushing aside the concerns of the State.
The BJP has countered saying the Central government is in the process of fulfilling all the promises and its ally is unnecessarily making a mess of it.
It is this episode of claims and counter-claims that are going to give some anxious moments against the backdrop of the BJP’s fresh patch-up bid in the form of yet another round of negotiations at the highest level.
The YSRCP has intensified its attack on the ruling combine but will continue to do so only in the public domain having resolved to boycott the Assembly session as a mark of protest against the alleged inaction of the Speaker on its plea to disqualify those who defected to the TDP.
Governor’s address
Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao has appealed to all parties to attend the session thereby exercise their right to raise the people’s issues and get their problems solved.
Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan will address the joint session at 9.30 a.m. Before that, the Cabinet will meet under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) will decide the legislative business to be transacted. The budget will be tentatively presented on March 8.
