Telangana Assembly wears festive atmosphere

​Hyderabad: The first day of the four-day session of the newly constituted Telangana State Assembly began on a colourful note on Thursday. The assembly lobbies were abuzz with the activity. MLAs mostly from TRS were seen exchanging pleasantries, patted each other mainly the TRS MLAs on their poll victory and a pep talk on the prospects of ministerial berths in the new cabinet which may be announced any time.

While, the ruling party MLAs were seen in a jubilant mood, the main opposition Congress members looked a little bit disappointed. The Congress MLAs, who were supposed to elect the leader of Legislative Assembly, met in the morning at Congress Legislative Party office, but failed to arrive at any decision. As per the normal practice, they passed a resolution authorising AICC president Rahul Gandhi to take a decision. Hence till a final announcement comes from New Delhi, Congress party in Assembly will not have leader of the legislature party.

All the newly-elected TRS legislators, sporting pink scarfs, stood in a queue at Martyrs’ Memorial and vied with each other to welcome KCR. Accompanied by the new Assembly Speaker-designate Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, KCR paid floral tributes to the martyrs and also observed silence for two minutes before leaving for Assembly. Later, the TRS legislators, including party working president KT Rama Rao, T Harish Rao, T Srinivas Yadav and others offered tributes.

As the main entrance and the other entry points in the assembly premises were decorated with flowers a festive atmosphere prevailed. MLAs of all the parties started arriving at the assembly 30 minutes before beginning of the session. The five MLAs of AIMIM party came to the Assembly clad in traditional attire and were seen seated in time. The TRS legislators were seen in a bit of hurry to reach the House from the Martyrs’ Memorial located opposite to Assembly.

Many TRS MLAs, apart from congratulating each other, were heard discussion about how they had to face the elections and the challenges that they had to encounter during polls. The visitors’ gallery was full with the family members of the first-time elected MLAs who took oath. Soon after the adjournment of the House for the day, the legislators joined the lunch hosted by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao at Jubilee Hall. Congress and MIM legislators were also present.