CM not keen on session

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Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy is not keen on convening the Monsoon Session of state Assembly that coincides with the Presidential poll on July 19. The Chief Minister reportedly had a discussion with his advisers on Thursday on whether a brief Monsoon Session should be convened and sources said he is not inclined to do so. While it is not mandatory to convene the Assembly Session to enable eligible members to participate in the Presidential poll, which will be held in Committee Hall No. 1 in the Assembly buildings, there were instances in the past when a brief session of the Assembly was convened.

As far as statutory requirements are concerned, the Assembly, which held its last sitting on March 29 this year, will have to be convened within six months of the last session, that is, by September 30. The CM was of the view that if a brief session is convened, the Opposition will take the opportunity to attack the government on various accounts including failure of the monsoon. “Had there been good rains and good agricultural atmosphere, the session would have been convened, but just to receive brickbats from Opposition, why should we call the Assembly?” queried a CM’s confidant.

Opposition parties have demanded a session to discuss the drought-like situation in the state. Meanwhile, both the Chief Minister and the PCC chief, Mr Botsa Satyanarayana, will be leaving for Delhi on Friday to meet All India Congress Committee general secretary Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad to discuss ensuring full attendance of ruling party MPs and MLAs for the Presidential polling on July 19. In AP, the Congress can rely on 155 Congress MLAs, one Independent, one MLA each from the CPM and Lok Satta parties and seven Majlis party MLAs to vote for the UPA’s Presidential candidate Mr Pranab Mukherjee.

Six of MLAs will be returning from foreign trips by July 15. Former minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana, who is in Chanchalguda jail, will be brought by the police to the Assembly buildings to cast his vote. Musheerabad MLA Ms T. Manemma Anjaiah, who has been ailing for a long time will be brought to the Assembly in an ambulance. It is likely that ministers in charge of districts will be asked to ensure the attendance of MLAs from their areas on that particular day. The Chief Minister is also planning to host a dinner for MLAs on the previous day to ensure attendance, sources said.