Not inviting Governor is violation of Constitution: TDP

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has said it was for the first time in the history of State Legislature that the budget session which began on Monday went without the conventional address of the Governor to both Houses.

When the matter was raised in the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee of the Assembly, the stock reply was that the President also did not address a joint session of Parliament. This was a clear case of violation of Parliamentary practices, TDP deputy leader in Assembly P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju and MLAs G. Muddukrishnama Naidu, Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao and others told a press conference today.

They said the Legislature was the biggest casualty of misdeeds by Congress in the last five years. There was a huge shortfall in the business of the Assembly although it was supposed to hold sittings for 55 to 60 days a year and 30 to 35 days in the budget session. A budget for Rs. 1.83 lakh crore in the next financial year was sought to be passed in just three days from today. It was being done by guillotining all demands, including those of critical sectors as power, health and welfare. Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Yanamala Ramakrishnudu too picked holes in the Vote on account Budget presented by the Government on its death bed as an invalid coin.

While the Government presented a budget for Rs.1.83 lakh crore for 2014-15, its loans exceeded Rs.2 lakh crore and destroyed fiscal parameters.

Refutes allegations

Finance Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy has refuted the Opposition charge that the Government had violated the provisions under Article 176 of the Constitution in not inviting Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan for addressing the joint session of the Legislature before presentation of the budget.He said the current session involved presentation of vote on account budget for six months ahead of elections. It was for the new Government to invite him for the customary address as and when the full-fledged budget session was convened. “Moreover, the Legislature is not prorogued,” he said.