The ruling TRS and the Opposition TDP and Congress members were engaged in fist-cuffs and at one stage came to blows with each other even as Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan was addressing the joint session of the Telangana State Legislature on Saturday.
True to the adage that coming events cast their shadow, the “ugly” drama enacted on the floor of the august House in the presence of the Governor on the opening day amply speaks of the stormy scenario that is expected to unfold in the coming days during the budget session.
What is more shocking was that when the national anthem was being played before the commencement of the Governor’s address, the protesting Telugu Desam and Congress members continued their slogan-shouting and were forced to maintain decency and decorum only after a virtual reprimand from the Governor. Like bitter foes coming together to fight against their common enemy, the TDP and Congress members joined hands to attack the ruling TRS members.
As Assembly Speaker Madhusudana Chary and Council Chairman Swamy Goud were escorting the Governor to the podium, trouble erupted with the TDP and Congress members holding placards raised slogans against the alleged anti-constitutional policies of the ruling party. They were in fact were agitating against the continuance of Talasani Srinivas Yadav and Thummala Nageshwar Rao, who had defected from TDP to TRS and were inducted in the KCR cabinet.
Soon after the national anthem ended and the Governor began to read his address, the slogan shouting TDP and Congress members rushed into the well of the House. Sensing trouble, the marshals in large numbers took position and formed into a human cordon around the podium to prevent the protesting members to surge forward.
Meanwhile, the TRS members too rushed towards the Opposition benches and tried to prevent the TDP and Congress members to move towards the podium. This led to a high drama in the well of the House and at one stage the TRS and TDP and Congress even came to blows. The Marshals had a tough time in keeping away the two warring sides.
Despite the despicable drama that was happening in the House, the Governor continued reading his address, while the TDP and Congress members continued raising slogans and even hurled the copies of the Governor’s speech in the air. TDP members Errabelli Dayakar Rao and Revanth Reddy and Congress member Sampath climbed onto the desks and began hurling the speech copies towards the podium. While the Governor continued to read his speech, the ADC to the Governor, the Marshals and the legislature staff engaged in preventing the paper missiles from falling on the Governor and the presiding officers of the legislature.
The Governor completed his address to the thumping of desks from the treasury benches. As he was leaving the House, the TDP and Congress members shouted slogans “Governor down down”, which was countered by the TRS members with slogans of Governor Zindabad. With a smile on his face and folded hands, the Governor left the House and departed to Raj Bhavan. (NSS)