It is now more or less certain. YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has decided to abolish the state legislative council that has become an irritant for his government to pass the crucial bills.
Jagan himself made an open announcement in the assembly on Thursday stating that the legislative council, which was established with the purpose of seeking advices from elders and educated people on the crucial decisions taken by the government, had turned into a political platform being misused by the opposition parties.
“It has lost its relevance. There are enough educated leaders in the state assembly itself, including doctors, teachers, lawyers and experts in various fields who are directly elected by the people. Under these circumstances, I wonder whether there is any need to have a separate council to seek advices? Especially when it has become a stumbling block for the government’s decisions?” he asked.
Jagan also reminded that there is unnecessary expenditure on the legislative council.
“We are spending Rs 60 crore every year on the council, which means Rs 300 crore during five years. Is it necessary to spend so much money?” he asked.
He said the assembly would discuss the issue thoroughly again on Monday to take a final call on continuation of the legislative council.
Earlier, Jagan expressed anguish over the way the legislative council was misused by the TDP members to stall the crucial bills on the capital.
He played the comments made by legislative council chairman Mohd Ahmed Sharif on the TV screen in the assembly in which he was clearly heard saying that the bills cannot be sent to the select committee due to procedural lapse.
“Yet, the chairman used his so-called discretionary powers to send the bills to the select committee. Obviously, he was under the influence of TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu who was sitting in the gallery. It was very unfortunate. I was deeply hurt with the developments. Entire five crore people should see this and understand the evil designs of the TDP,” Jagan said.
