Assembly sessions likely to be stormy

Hyderabad, Jul 23 :-

With security being beefed up in view of increased threat perception from terrorists and Maoists, the Budget Session of Andhra Pradesh Assembly will begin on Friday, with the ruling Congress and opposition parties the TDP, TRS and PRP likely to lock horns over various issues. The main issues which dominate the proceedings on the opening day Friday are the arrest of TDP MLA T V Rama Rao and the row with upper riparian States of Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Expecting the session to be stormy, the Chief Minister, Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, held  consultations with  his Cabinet colleagues and officials to chalk out the government's strategies  to blunt the Opposition attack.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and the TDP chief, Mr N Chandrababu Naidu, Praja Rajyam Party(PRP) Floor leader Chiranjeevi and the floor leaders of other parties held meetings with their respective party colleagues in the House. The main  topics which figured in their meetings were how to corner the ruling Congress on the main issues, like the skyrocketing of prices of essential commodities, plight of farmers  due to failure of monsoon, raise in number of  ragging incidents , attacks on Indian students in Australia and the Karamchedu episode  involving the leaders of ruling Congress and TDP.

While making it clear that the live telecast would continue, Assembly Speaker N Kirankumar Reddy announced at a press conference here that entry of mediapersons and vistors into the Assembly premises would be regulated to maintain  the ''sanctity'' of the House and to conduct the business of the house in a smooth manner.

He said taking into account the increased security threats, visitors to galleries would be provided with photo identity card. The visitors  would not be allowed into the Assembly lobbies to submit memorandum either to him or the Chief Minister and his Cabinet Colleagues when the House is in motio.