After a lot of dilly-dallying, the Telugu Desam Party has finally decided to attend the budget session of the Andhra Pradesh state legislative assembly and council, commencing on Monday.
A decision to this effect was taken at the TDP legislature party meeting held at the party office in Mangalagiri on Saturday, after a lot of brainstorming.
Some of the TDP MLAs suggested that they should stay away from the assembly sessions, because there was no use in attending the same, as the ruling YSR Congress party would not allow the opposition to raise any issue and bulldoze the bills without any discussion.
However, some others felt that it would not be appropriate to boycott the assembly as it would send wrong signals to the people.
Naidu reportedly sought the final opinion of senior leader and MLC Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, who suggested that it would be better to attend the assembly session to put up a strong fight with the ruling party.
After taking all the suggestions, the TDP chief directed that the MLAs should attend the assembly session, come what may, to raise the issues of public concern.
Naidu, however, would be staying away from the House, as per the vow he had taken in the last assembly session.
Even when party founder N T Rama Rao decided to boycott the assembly when he was the opposition leader during the Congress regime, he asked the TDP MLAs to attend the sessions.
At that time, Naidu himself had acted as the floor leader and fought against the Congress government.
Naidu also reminded that even when the TDP had a very few MLAs between 2004 and 2009, the party had fought against the Rajasekhar Reddy government. “So, there is nothing wrong in attending the session,” he said.
He told them that though he won’t be physically present in the assembly, he would continue to monitor the proceedings and give directions to the MLAs from time to time.
