Hyderabad: Telangana state Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday paid a surprise visit to the state Assembly buildings and held a review meet with the presiding officers of the Assembly and Legislative Council, ministers and officials on conducting the Budget Session in September.
The meeting assumes significance as it was held a day before the crucial meeting of the Telangana and AP state presiding officers, slated to be held at 5 pm on Tuesday.
Mr Rao enquired about the exact number of days required for the Budget Session and went through the relevant rules. He has instructed principal secretary (finance) V. Nagireddy to go through the first Budget copies of the three new states — Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttaranchal — presented immediately after their formation and ensure that the first Budget of Telangana state also reflects the aspirations of the people.
Police officials present at the meeting raised doubts about providing security in view of security requirements for the Ganesh festival, which will be followed by immersion on September 9. They also expressed their apprehensions about providing security at a time for both the Telangana and AP state legislatures meets and the Budget Session almost simultaneously. However, the Chief Minister told them that there is no reason to panic about clashing of dates of both the Houses, and the dates could be adjusted.
Mr Rao also promised to have the Telangana Session from second week, preferably after the Ganesh immersion. He has enquired from legislature officials the number of days required for completion of the Budget Session.
Meanwhile on Tuesday evening, there will be a joint meeting of presiding officers of both the states’ legislatures at the Committee Hall to address the main issue of sharing accommodation in the buildings, which has turned controversial between the two states.
Telangana state Assembly Speaker S. Madhusudana Chary, Legislative Council Chairman Swamy Goud, minister for legislature affairs T. Harish Rao, legislature secretary Raja Sadaaram will take part in the meeting, whereas AP Assembly Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao, Council Chairman A. Chakrapani, legislative affairs minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, legislature secretary K. Satyanarayana Rao will attend.
The AP government, in principle, decided to conduct the Budget Session from August 16, but due to space crunch it wants more rooms and parking from the TS. The matter went to the Governor, who held separate meetings with the presiding officers and told them to resolve the issues amicably.
