Date:08/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/08/stories/2007110860841200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Extended holiday for Andhra Pradesh MLAs

HYDERABAD: It turned out to be an extended holiday for MLAs, two days ahead of Deepavali, with Speaker K.R. Suresh Reddy forced to adjourn the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday, without transaction of any business, after slogan-shouting by Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) members stalled proceedings.

Under the original plan, the MLAs were supposed to take off on Friday for Deepavali besides Saturday and Sunday. The Business Advisory Committee decided that Thursday should be off as well. With no work done in the Assembly on Wednesday, the holiday has extended to five days. As soon as the House was adjourned, a majority of the MLAs were seen in a hurry to return to native places. In keeping with the mood inside the House, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy was seen exchanging jokes with Congress and TRS members during the adjournments.

In a throwback to Monday’s pandemonium, the House could hardly meet for 30 minutes. Repeated attempts by the Chair to restore order and take up the Question Hour were in vain.

Initially, Mr. Reddy adjourned the House for 30 minutes and subsequently for 15 minutes. However, when the pandemonium persisted, he adjourned the House for the day.

Notices rejected

Trouble began soon after Mr. Reddy announced that he was disallowing seven adjournment notices tabled by various opposition parties.

Placard-waving TRS and Telugu Desam (TDP) members immediately rushed to the podium forcing the first adjournment. While the TDP wanted to raise the issue of alleged exemption given to Congress leaders from urban land ceiling laws in the city, the TRS sought a discussion on the creation of nodal agency for expending SC/ ST funds.