Roja faces uncertainty

​Velagapudi: Uncertainty prevails over continuation of YSRC member and actor RK Roja in the AP Assembly in the wake of speculations doing the rounds over extension of her suspension for one more year on charges of a verbal assault on an SC woman member from the TDP.

Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao suspended her from the House for one year on grounds of making derogatory remarks against Chief Minister and Leader of the House N Chandrababu Naidu in the call money sex racket case. As her suspension period came to a close, she has been attending the session for the last two days.

The actor, considered to be a firebrand in the opposition camp, conspicuously maintained a low-profile in the last two days of the session. In a striking departure from her usual belligerent postures against the TD government, she conducted herself all through the proceedings as if an incognito all through the proceedings on the Day-1 and the Day-2 sessions.

In fact, she entered the house on the first day without attracting public glare even as the TV cameras were positioned at the vantage points to capture her. Media from the gallery craned their heads looking for Roja’s reaction when the Governor in his inaugural address made a mention of special category issue and the package extended by the centre in lieu of the farmer on which her party has launched a crusade.

The actor, who was always seen in the front line while attacking the government, was spotted in the last row when YSRC members staged a demonstration at the well of the house demanding the chair to allow their leader to speak.

According to information, the privilege committee, headed by its Chairman Gollapalli Surya Rao inquired into the complaint of misbehavior with Vangalapudi Anitha (Payakaraopet) by the YSRC lady member and completed his report. The report was said to have been submitted to the Speaker.

The report was allegedly leaked to a select media outlets without the knowledge of the Speaker, suggesting the committee found the prima facie evidence against her and favoured a second spell of suspension, Roja said in an informal chat with reports on the Assembly lobbies today.

Stalemate prevailed over the issue as both the opposition and the treasury benches stuck to their guns. Legislative Affairs Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu told a section of the media personnel that an unconditional apology from Roja was warranted for condoning by the House.

Roja however maintained that there was no question of her tendering apology to the House as she was not at fault. The YSRC MLA said the allegations involving her abusing the fellow member were concocted by the ruling party.

Meanwhile, the YSRCP is understood to not to yield to demand of the treasury benches in Roja’s case at any cost. The party’s mood indicates that it was ready even to let Roja face another bout of suspension so as to let the ruling party be exposed in the public thoroughly.

The TDLP is said to be treading with caution while recommending to the Chair to axe Roja for the second time as it was likely to incur public wrath if drastic action is taken. The government is already facing criticism for keeping an elected member away from the House for one full year, an unprecedented development in the history of Parliamentary democracy.