Will the state government invite the Governor, Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, for the inauguration of the new secretariat?
A discussion is going on about this in TRS circles in the context of two MLC seats in the Governor’s quota falling vacant. While the two MLC seats will become vacant next month, the inauguration of the new secretariat is scheduled for April 30.
BRS circles think that the equation between the government and the Governor will have an impact on the filling up of the two MLC seats in the Governor’s quota.
The state government is keeping the Governor away from official programmes. It did not invite the Governor to the unveiling of Dr BR Ambedkar’s statue held recently. Later, the Governor said that she had not received any invitation from the government for the unveiling of Dr BR Ambedkar’s statue.
The Governor said that she would have attended the function if she had been invited. The Governor is ready to attend any government programme if invited. But the government is not involving the Governor in any official programmes and is keeping her away.
Sources said that for the inauguration of the new secretariat too the government will not be inviting the Governor.
It may be recalled that the Governor did not approve for several months the appointment of BRS leader Padi Kaushik Reddy as an MLC in the Governor’s quota. Later, he was elected as an MLC from the MLAs’ quota which doesn’t require approval from the Governor.
Keeping this in view ahead of the two MLC seats in the Governor’s quota falling vacant, BRS circles, particularly the hopefuls who want the MLC seats, are eagerly waiting to know whether the government will invite the Governor or not.
BRS MLCs D. Rajeswar Rao and Farooq Hussain are retiring after completing their six-year tenure on May 27. The Election Commission has no role in filling these seats. After passing the resolution on selecting candidates the government sends the file to the Governor for approval.
The Telangana Assembly elections should be held in or before December 2023. As per rules, the Election Commission can hold the Assembly elections at any time six months before the scheduled period. That means after June-end the Election Commission can hold elections at any time.
There are several hopefuls in the BRS for the two MLC seats falling vacant. It is not yet clear whether the BRS will continue the two retiring MLCs for six more years or select new ones. Usually, ruling parties decide candidates expecting some political gains ahead of the Assembly elections.
If the Governor does not approve the names sent by the government and keeps it pending after the Election Commission announces the election schedule, the Governor may not approve it till the elections are over. This possibility is worrying MLC hopefuls in the BRS.
