Hyderabad: The Telangana government has planned a two-day orientation programme for newly-elected MLAs and MLCs to help them understand Assembly rules and procedures. The programme, starting Wednesday, aims to prepare legislators for effective participation in debates and discussions. However, the Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has announced its decision to boycott the event.
The decision to hold this orientation comes after recent clashes between the ruling Congress and BRS in the Assembly. With a majority of the newly-elected MLAs belonging to Congress, the government is focusing on equipping them to counter the Opposition during legislative debates in line with Assembly procedures.
The orientation will cover key topics, including legislators’ privileges, their role in governance, and protocols. On the first day, experts will conduct sessions on using tools like question hour, zero hour, adjournment motions, resolutions, special mentions, and urgent public matters effectively. The second day will focus on bills, their introduction, and strengthening State legislature committees.
Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, Council Chairman Gutta Sukhender Reddy, and Legislature Secretary Dr. V. Narasimha Charyulu reviewed the arrangements for the programme on Tuesday. They urged all MLAs and MLCs to attend the sessions, highlighting their importance for legislative functioning.
Meanwhile, the BRS has strongly opposed the orientation and decided to boycott it. Party working president K.T. Rama Rao criticized the Speaker, accusing him of violating the rights of BRS legislators. He alleged that BRS MLAs were blocked from entering the Assembly during protests against the government’s failures. He also accused the Speaker of delaying action on defected BRS MLAs and suppressing the party’s voice in previous sessions.
The boycott reflects the ongoing tensions between the ruling Congress and the Opposition BRS, adding another layer of conflict to the Assembly proceedings.
