Legislature session set to begin today

Yanamala to present vote-on-account on Feb. 5

Taking no chances: Security was tightened at the Legislature complex, at Velagapudi in Guntur district on Tuesday.

The six-day session of the 14th Assembly would begin from Wednesday. Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu would present vote-on-account on February 5. The Assembly and the Council are likely to remain in session till February 8.

The session would commence with the Governor’s address, while motion of thanks to it is slated on February 5 followed by the budget. There won’t be any sessions from February 1 to 4.

YSRCP to stay away

Opposition YSR Congress has decided to abstain this session too. It has been boycotting the Assembly session demanding Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao to take action against the party MLAs who crossed over to the Telugu Desam.

Dr. Rao on Tuesday said efforts to reach out to Leader of the Opposition Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had come to a naught. Equal opportunity was given to every member. The Assembly was the right forum to discuss the people’s issues and the Opposition parties must utilise it. It would be a challenging job for the Chair only if both the ruling and the Opposition parties were present, he said.

On the budget, Dr. Rao said: “It is against Article 16 of the Constitution to present a full budget in the name of vote-on-account.”

Dr. Rao’s comment assumes significance in the wake of reports that Union Finance Minister is likely to present the full Budget on February 1 instead of vote-on-account.

This would be the last session before the tenure of the TDP government comes to an end.

A full Budget will not be presented as elections are due in May. The vote-on-account or approval for essential government spending for a limited period is taken in the election year. As a convention, it is treated as a formal matter and passed without discussion. The task of framing the full Budget is left to the next government.