TDP means Temporary Development Party: YSRC in AP Assembly

Amaravati (AP): The YSR Congress today dubbed the ruling TDP as "Temporary Development Party" stating that everything it has been doing is "only temporary". "Be it the construction of Pattisam Lift Irrigation project, Purushottapatnam Lift Irrigation, the Secretariat or the Assembly...everything is only temporary. Even the hotel accommodation we (MLAs) have been provided is temporary. So people are calling the TDP a Temporary Development Party," YSRC MLA Buggana Rajendranath Reddy remarked in the Assembly today.

Rajendranath, who spoke during the general discussion on the Budget, took potshots at the ruling party in his sarcastic and witty style, but left the Treasury members fuming. "During the Partnership Summit, a cancer research institute signed an MoU with the state government, promising to create 12,000 jobs. Probably, the (cancer) patients would be counted as employees," he said in a pun-laced remark. Trouble, however, started when the opposition legislator alleged that two new thermal power projects were being built -- despite lack of demand -- ostensibly for the sake of kickbacks. "The AP government is spending at least Rs 2 crore extra per mega watt compared to similar projects being executed in Telangana and Gujarat. This is only makes it clear that it's for kickbacks only," he said. His remarks triggered a counterattack from the TDP.

"Your leader Jagan is used to such quid pro quo. He has got Rs one lakh crore," Labour Minister K Atchannaidu retorted. The Enforcement Directorate had already attached Rs 43,000 crore worth of Jagan's properties, he said. The YSRC members were on their feet and a verbal duel ensued with the TDP. Senior TDP MLA Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary made a strong remark and YSRC's Kodali Srivenkateswara Rao countered it with an equally bad word. As Gorantla took exception to this, Kodali said he did not use the word against the former but only in a general sense. He expressed regret if it hurt the TDP member. Leader of Opposition Y S Jaganmohan Reddy also intervened to hit back at the Labour Minister. "If Atchannaidu can prove that even ten per cent (of Rs 43,000 crore) assets belonged to me, I will gift it to him," Jagan said.

After a brief exchange of words between the two sides, YSRC's Rajendranath continued with his part on the Budget discussion, but his mike was cut off abruptly when he called the TDP a Temporary Development Party. Noisy scenes were witnessed as YSRC members rushed near the Speaker's podium and raised slogans, demanding that Rajendranath be allowed to conclude his remarks. However, the TDP members raised counter slogans. After several minutes were lost in arguments, the Speaker said he would allow another three minutes for the YSRC member to wind up.

The Budget discussion then continued. Earlier in the day, the House witnessed two brief adjournments of ten minutes each when first the lone opposition demanded an immediate discussion on the drought situation in the state. Later, during the Question Hour, the opposition members were again on their feet protesting the growing atrocities on women, leading to a second adjournment. Some unsavoury scenes were witnessed at the Assembly media point when women legislators of TDP and YSRC came face-to-face and indulged in a verbal duel.