Date:15/07/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/07/15/stories/2004071517200400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Historic moment

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JULY 14. The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's address to the Legislative Assembly was historic and unique.

There is only one occasion, officials of the Legislature secretariat say, when the President addressed a State legislature.

That privilege again was Andhra Pradesh's. It was on June 28, 1978, that late Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, as President, had addressed a joint meeting of both Houses (the Legislative Council was abolished in 1985).

The sixth Assembly was constituted three months ago. Marri Channa Reddy was Chief Minister and Divi Kondaiah Choudary, Speaker. Syed Mukassir Shah was chairman of the Legislative Council. Interestingly, the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and the Leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrababu Naidu, were first-timers in the House.