HYDERABAD: The Third Legislative Assembly of Telangana began its business with the swearing-in of the newly elected members, amidst smiles, hand-shakes, hugs, and some muted amusement. With AIMIM’s senior MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi in the chair as pro-tem Speaker, the swearing-in of the new MLAs, some of them old hands, passed off smoothly.
The day began at Raj Bhavan with Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundarajan administering the oath to six-time MLA Owaisi as the pro-tem Speaker. The event was attended by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, former Speaker and BRS MLA Pocharam Srinivas Reddy.
In the Assembly, before Owaisi’s arrival, Revanth Reddy, occupying the Chief Minister’s chair for the first time, walked across and greeted BRS MLAs individually, and then MIM legislators. Once Owaisi took the Speaker’s chair, the proceedings began with the National Anthem. First to take oath was Revanth Reddy as the leader of the House and he did so in Telugu. He then walked up the Speaker’s podium, greeted Owaisi, and after a brief hug, signed in the register.
Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti took the oath next, followed by the rest of the Cabinet members except minister N, Uttam Kumar Reddy who was at Gandhi Bhavan and reached the Assembly sometime later. Next was the turn women MLAs in alphabetical order.
Missing were the eight BJP MLAs-elect who boycotted the event claiming the due process of electing the most senior legislator as pro-tem Speaker was not followed.
While most members took the oath in Telugu, some did in so English, Those speaking in Telugu were in some confusion over certain words, particularly ‘niyamalu (rules)’ which was rendered as ‘niyamakalu (jobs)’, the word used ad-infinitum during the election campaign by all sides.
Also missing BRS president and former chief minister K, Chandrashekar Rao who is recuperating from a hip replacement surgery, and his son and BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao who was with him.
