After days of bedlam, Andhra Pradesh assembly transacts business

After continuous disruption of proceedings by Opposition members for more than a week over Telangana impasse, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly today for the first time, during the ongoing Budget session, transacted normal business smoothly.

The house was paralysed for over a week on the demand for creation of Telangana state and for two days on the unified state demand, raised by Telugu Desam Party MLAs from Andhra-Rayalaseema regions.

With the MLAs from Telangana region continuing their boycott of the House on the statehood demand, the Andhra-Rayalaseema MLAs remained calm enabling taking up of the question hour.

Of course, the TDP and CPM members staged a walk out from the House, expressing dissatisfaction over the government's reply on the steps taken to overcome power shortage in the state during summer.

However, attendance of members remained very thin with just about 50 MLAs belonging to all parties making their presence today.

Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy sat in the House for a brief period while leader of opposition N Chandrababu Naidu was absent for the second day.

The house also took up zero hour today. The assembly then took up discussion on the demand for grants related to various departments.