As mighty high-end cars, massive sports utility vehicles, along with the stylish one zoom into the Telangana Assembly with their revving engines catching everyone’s attention, the Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) get down to warm reception of the Assembly staff and the security personnel reflecting the power they enjoy.
In the midst of those expensive vehicles comes a two-wheeler with an MLA pillion riding on it.
He gets down the bike with a few papers in his hands and walks into the Assembly portico almost unnoticed. In the youngest State of the country, this MLA elected from Bhadrachalam constituency, Sunnam Rajaiah stands out with his simplicity.
The CPI (M) MLA is also one of the few MLAs who used the bus service provided by the government from the MLA quarters to the Assembly during the sessions. However, the government withdrew the facility in the last budget session. “I was the lone MLA using the service and some times a couple of other MLAs used to join but that has been withdrawn now,” he said.
In fact, his simplicity also landed him in some embarrassing moments. In 2015, police posted at the Assembly refused his entry as he came in an autorickshaw and they couldn’t identify him. Despite his pleas that he was an MLA, the auto was not allowed entry forcing him to get down at the main road and walk all the way into the Assembly building. “It’s sad that simplicity is a disadvantage in the society,” he said.
Mr. Rajaiah, once again, caught the attention of the MLAs during the Question Hour on Wednesday requesting the government to run a Garuda bus between his constituency Bhadrachalam and Hyderabad as one of the two services were withdrawn last month. “I use the night service to come to Hyderabad from my constituency and I request the Minister to immediately revive the service,” he pleaded.
Mr. Rajaiah told The Hindu that the outdated bus broke down in the forest area last month and instead of running a new bus, the TSRTC has withdrawn the service totally. Since thousands of pilgrims visit the temple town daily, he wants the service to be reintroduced.