The impact of YSRCP’s call for boycott of the winter session of the Assembly was visible all over on the first day on Friday with the Opposition benches wearing a deserted look and there was no shouting of slogans, no rushing to the podium of the Speaker and no display of placards.
The House began and ran smoothly without any noisy interruptions till 2.30 pm. The principal Opposition called for the boycott in protest against Speaker, Kodela Siva Prasada Rao’s “inaction” in disqualifying YSRCP MLAs who defected to the ruling Telugu Desam Party. The YSRCP MLAs were not there, but Assembly staffers religiously kept the agenda and other copies ready on their tables.
The proceedings were sans the Opposition MLAs’ attempt draw the attention of the Speaker and demands for the adjournment motions seeking discussion on topics during question hour. Both question hour and zero hour went off smoothly as there was no heated argument.
The TDP MLAs encouraged Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Nara Lokesh, son of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, by thumping benches when he gave a reply to a question related to his department for the first time. Security personnel and Assembly Marshals kept a close watch on the YSR Congress Legislature Party office, which used to be hub of activity, despite the fact that it remained locked.
There was no activity at the media point, which used to be a forum for challenges and counter challenges. Barring a couple of members and Ministers, including Information and Public Relations (I&PR) Minister Kalava Srinivasulu, none ventured towards the media point.
In fact, the MLAs, who were very vocal and lashed out at YSRCP in previous sessions, also shied away from the media point. Some of them even ignored the waiting mediapersons and walked straight towards their vehicles parked outside.