Naidu away, it’s time to relax

Amaravati: The maxim, when the cat is away, mice will play, came true during Wednesday’s monsoon session of the Assembly. Members looked relaxing throughout the session as Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was away in Visakhapatnam, attending the Ag-Tech summit, along with Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu.

The lack of seriousness in raising questions by members and giving replies by the ministers concerned was conspicuously felt in the House even as deliberations during question hour, Zero Hour and short discussion were just perfunctory. Election of N Md Farooq as Chairman of AP Legislative Council drew away a good number of ministers, including IT and panchayaraj minister Nara Lokesh, from the Assembly when the business was in progress.

Their customary participation was required to greet him with bouquets and praise his services to the Assembly in the undivided state. A senior member from the TDP told The Hans India that the ministers are not feeling obligated to come to the House well- prepared and give apt replies to the questions raised by members since they thought it as an in-house matter in the absence of the opposition.

“Our leader Naidu kept time and again exhorted our party members at the TDLP and strategy committee meetings to play dual role as both treasury and opposition benches. Practically, it is not possible for ruling party members to hold their ground and pin down the replies from ministers for want of freedom as enjoyed by the opposition party members,” he observed.

The subject of infrastructure facilities in villages and convergence of funds with Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) was posted as short discussion after the Zero Hour. A few members took part in the deliberations on the topic but the minister concerned Lokesh could not give reply due to his preoccupation with the Chairman’s election in the Council. The discussions on the crucial issue that left thousands of rural workers without wages for several months for want of fund flow from the Centre were only peripheral. The TDP blames YSRC, which complained to the Central government over the alleged violation of guidelines and misuse of funds in execution of works, for suspension of funds and for the plight of workers.

The discussions on the topic obviously ended up without touching upon the complaints of irregularities and suspension of fund flow since it is sensitive for both the TDP and the BJP, thanks to their alliance. Lokesh is expected to respond over the issue on Monday. Although short discussion was held on housing issue, the opportunity was utilised by treasury benches to blame the erstwhile Congress regime, demanding a House Committee to probe irregularities .

There was no counterpart since the Congress has no presence in the present House. Meanwhile, the absence of the YSRCP, the principal opposition with 43 members, was glaringly felt during a day-long discussion on boat tragedy in River Krishna on Monday. Deliberations by members from the TDP and its ally BJP held after the statement of the Chief Minister centred around small fries responsible for the worst-ever tragedy that claimed 23 lives without getting down to the root of the problem.

“Had the YSRC been present in the House, the Assembly would have felt the heat of boat mishap throughout the current monsoon session,” commented another member. A senior member from the TDP likened the Wednesday’s session to a class of students without teacher. “When teacher is away from class, it is time for students to relax. It is just like that and there is nothing unusual,” he observed.