TDP, Cong. accord on House proceedings

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MARCH 24. Representatives of the Telugu Desam and the Congress legislature parties met in the Speaker's chambers, on Saturday, to discuss how best and smoothly the House can transact business in the five days left of the current budget session.

On a long-term perspective, both sides are also understood to have agreed on certain dos and donts in the larger interest of maintaining decency and decorum of the proceedings and the dignity of the House. The need for adherence to the code of ethics evolved by the Assembly was also underscored.

With much of the House's time consumed by emotional issues and mutual recrimination, it was felt by the meeting that justice could not be done to issues of public concern.

At informal gatherings in the lobbies over the week, members of the Treasury and the Opposition alike expressed anguish that serious issues could not be debated and that barring agriculture and allied subjects, the Assembly could not pass vote on any important demand so far. Seniors from both sides felt something should be done and sat down for today's interaction after obtaining `go-ahead' from respective leaders.

Messrs. J.R. Pushparaj, Deputy Leader, TDLP, K. Venkata Rao, Government Chief Whip, G. Babu Rao, Yousuf Ali, whips, K. Koteswara Rao, treasurer, S. Venkateswara Rao represented the TDP while the Congress side consisted of Messrs. V. Purushotham Reddy, A. Vivekananda Reddy, B. Goverdhan, J. Ratnakar Rao and P. Sambasiva Raju.

Sources said it was agreed to take up combined discussion on irrigation, welfare and panchayat raj when the House meets on Tuesday. Other areas of convergence of views were: utmost respect to the Chair, the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition who should be heard without interruption, proper focus on matters of public importance, bills and demands, adherence to `dignified criticism', need for orientation sessions for MLAs on the rules of business, etc.

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Section  : Southern States
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