HYDERABAD: The Budget session of Telangana State Legislative Assembly commencing on Thursday is likely to focus more on irrigation sector with the ruling party signing a ‘historic pact’ with its neighbour Maharashtra for construction of five barrages on river Godavari just a day ahead of the session.
With the TDP decimated to just three members, the Congress and BJP are likely to play the role of opposition in the session. The Congress is said to be preparing itself to corner the government on signing the pact with Maharashtra as it feels that TS has surrendered its rightful share to the neighbouring state.
However, there is little chance for major fireworks in this session with almost half of the Opposition members joining the TRS. Of the two main Opposition parties - Congress and TDP - almost the entire block of TDP members except three have defected to TRS.
The treasury benches are upbeat after the landslide victories in recent byelections and civic body polls. With a majority of MLAs quitting TDP, Congress has become the only opposition in the Assembly.
Defectors Seek Recognition
Meanwhile, the defected TDP MLAs have urged the Assembly Speaker to recognise them as TRS members. According to sources, the former TTDP floor leader E Dayakar Rao will act as leader of the breakaway group and support the government. The TDP has now only three MLAs - A Revanth Reddy, Sandra Venkata Veeraiah and R Krishnaiah.
The ruling TRS is mainly focusing on its achievements in irrigation sector, especially the recent “historic pact” with Maharashtra on construction of barrages across the Godavari.
According to sources, the TRS members have already submitted various questions on irrigation projects. Irrigation minister T Harish Rao and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will answer these questions in detail. The CM will also explain reengineering and redesigning of irrigation projects, sources said. On the opening day of the Budget session on Thursday, Governor ESL Narasimhan will address the joint session of the Legislature. Finance Minister E Rajender will present the Budget for 2016-17 on March 14.
The Budget outlay is expected to cross the Rs 1 lakh crore mark as the state government, in its first Budget itself, had introduced a one lakh crore budget.
The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) will meet on Thursday and finalise the number of days the Assembly will meet. The government is also likely to move some key Bills like its IT policy, Mining policy and others during the session.