Ramachandraiah flays presiding officers

​Amaravati: Slamming the presiding officers and accusing them of being sold out to the ruling party, C Ramachandraiah the Opposition leader in the legislative Council advocated that it was prime duty of the presiding officers of both Assembly and Council to safe guard the constitution and to act in impartial manner.

Speaking during the motion of thanks to Governor’s address in the Council at Velagapudi on Tuesday, Ramachandraiah came down heavily on the partisan attitude of the presiding officers. “Presiding officer should protect the rights and values of the legislative bodies,” he stated.

Expressing anguish over the recent developments, he said that the presiding officers of both the houses were functioning in partisan manner without taking any action on the members, who were sitting in treasury benches even though being elected from other party. “This is against to the principles of parliamentary democracy,” he charged.

“The two presiding officers are not taking any action on the defectors, despite complaints. It is sad to say that the anti-defection bill is diluted and it became toothless. Though as a leader of Opposition, I urged repeatedly not to allow such practices, but the defectors are being invited into treasury benches.

The situation ever worse in the Council, presiding officer, who was elected from Congress party became mere spectator,” he lamented.