When Assembly lobbying spelt vibrancy   

How the times are changing. The lobbies of the State Legislative Assembly, which were forever vibrant have now turned into dreary and monotonous given that the activities that were symbolic when a session was underway appear to be a thing of the past; a long forgotten period in time.

A scribe who has been covering the session reminiscence the days of yore when the lobbies were witness to hectic political activity, animated discussions, political jibes against one another, leg pulling, and breaking news informally. They were commonplace. Alas, these very lobbies have turned into such boring joints that they resemble the corridors of an international school where an eerie of silence prevails for most part of the day in the name of discipline.

Gone are the days when leaders of all parties used to make optimal use of the lobbies to interact with the media, discuss from dosas and idlies to hard news and the happenings inside their political parties. In those days, when there was a substantial strength in both the Treasury and Opposition Benches, there would be suspensions and marshals evicting agitated members, who would sit on dharnas in front of the Speaker’s chambers.

During his tenure as the Speaker N Kiran Kumar Reddy and YS Rajasekhara Reddy imposed restrictions like banning MLAs from holding impromptu press conferences in the lobbies. Cameramen and photographers were forthwith barred from entering the lobbies. However, there was no restriction on members interacting with reporters in the offices allotted to the political parties in the lobbies.

Today, a fall-out of the bifurcation is that not only the size of the lobbies has shrunk but even the numerical composition of political parties has come down to near-zero. The largest opposition party has just 11 members. It is a normal practice for the Assembly to have working lunch when the House takes up some important issue for discussion, which could continue till late into the evening.

In the past the lunch for the members and the media used to be in the same hall but now to ensure that no interaction of the members takes place with anyone, the working lunch is arranged in the inner lobbies. Of course, the government will try to convince every Tom, Dick and Harry that this decision ensures that the members can have a quick bite and resume their seats during the debate. Read pragmatically, it implies that the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s intention of a working lunch in the lobbies is essentially to ensure their presence in the House.

While the ruling party members are under strict instructions not to mingle with media much or make any comment about any issue, what is surprising, and ironical, is that even the Opposition members are tight-lipped as far as interacting with the media is concerned. It apparently stems from an inner fear at their Arithmetic count leaving them groping in the dark and unsure of regaining lost ground.

The Congress Legislature Party (CLP), which used to be a hub for news, present a somber picture, a far cry from the days when it was hugely resourceful even when sitting in the opposition. The ruling TRS members are under instruction to either avoid the media or talk about how the government has taken up welfare measures for the benefit of the people, which are “Na Bhootho Na Bhavishyati” (Never before and Never after).

They have been exhorted to send the message loud and clear about the government is setting up a precedent in running the House and ensuring that the time was utilized for quality discussions and not for creating ruckus. The Andhra Pradesh Assembly, which had held its session in the same premises recently, could never transact any business. All that it witnessed was pandemonium, allegations, counter-allegations, attacking the Speaker’s podium.

This is in stark contrast to the TS Assembly, which has set a record in conducting business in a peaceful manner. It has not only come forward on its own to take up certain issues like discussion on Nayeem or demonetization and irrigation projects but has also agreed to the opposition demand to hold a long winter session of over 20 days.

However, it is not without faults. In the undivided Andhra Pradesh, the then Speakers-Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Pratibha Bhrarathi, KR Suresh Reddy or even Kiran Kumar Reddy, the media used to have easy access to their chambers and could have frequent interaction with them.
Not anymore, though. Today, the area adjoining the Speaker’s chambers is a virtual no-entry zone. In those days, even Chief Ministers used to stop and answer the questions of reporters before leaving for their camp office. Period!

By V RAMU SARMA