Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan entered the Telangana Assembly after two years. Last year, Assembly sessions were held without the Governor’s speech due to technical reasons.
This year too, the government wanted to hold meetings without the Governor’s speech, but it finally backed down. Amid dramatic developments, the government allowed the Governor’s speech.
However, no turns and twists took place during the Governor’s address as expected by the media due to the differences between the Raj Bhavan and Pragathi Bhavan. But there was criticism against the Centre in the Governor’s address.
The Governor read the copy given by the government without skipping a single line. It may be recalled that the Governor criticised the BRS government on Republic Day saying that development doesn’t mean farmhouses and constructing buildings.
However, the same Governor on Friday said, “The new secretariat building is being constructed in a manner befitting the new state.I congratulate the government in this august House for deciding to name the new secretariat in the name of the architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr BR Ambedkar.The government has provided modern facilities which are on par with international standards to ensure effective governance.”
The Governor was welcomed by Legislative Council Chairman Gutta Sukhender Reddy, Legislative Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Chief Minister KCR and Legislative Affairs Minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy.
The Governor moved forward greeting members of the Legislative Assembly and Council with a smile. Chief Minister KCR followed her. Ministers, MLAs and MLCs also got up from their seats and honoured the Governor and the Chief Minister.
Council Chairman Gutta Sukhender Reddy and Speaker Pocharam Srininvas Reddy took the Governor to the podium. Everyone sang the national anthem.
After that, the Governor started her speech in Telugu. The Governor ended her speech with the slogan ‘Jai Telangana.’ After the speech, Dr Tamilisai left accompanied by the Chairman of the Council, the Speaker, KCR and Minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy.
Earlier, Minister Jagadish Reddy said before the start of the budget session that KCR will definitely respect the protocol of the Governor and that KCR will not compromise on such matters.
In a chit-chat with the media in the lobby of the Assembly on Friday, the minister said that since the Governor engaged in politics, KCR also did politics.
He said that officials provided adequate protocol to the Governor while she visited the Yadadri Temple. He said that the Governor should know about pending Bills. Minister Jagdish Reddy said that politics is also a protocol.
After the Governor’s address, MLC Takkallapalli Ravinder Rao said in a lighter vein in the lobbies that media people expected a lot.
“You people expected that something would happen in the House during the Governor’s speech. But nothing happened and hence you people look disappointed. You, people, have no banner story for tomorrow,” he said smilingly.
Then one of the journos responded to Ravinder saying, “Yes sir, the Governor’s address was held in a calm manner. We need news Sir.”
