Andhra Pradesh Assembly adjourned twice; two YSRC MLAs suspended

HYDERABAD: Unruly scenes created by YSR Congress members forced adjournment of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly twice this morning.

Following the ruckus, two YSR Congress MLAs - Siva Prasad Reddy and Mani Gandhi - were suspended from the House for the day.

The Opposition legislators stormed the Speaker's podium insisting that their leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy be allowed to continue his debate on the Budget even as Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu rose to commence his reply to the discussion on the Annual Financial Statement.

Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao told the YSRC members that Jagan had already utilised the 90-minute time allotted to him and even spoke for extra duration. As such he could not be permitted to speak more.

But the YSRC MLAs remained adamant and sought to stall the House, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the proceedings for 15 minutes.

The Opposition members remained on their feet in the Well of the House raising slogans and picking up an argument with the Speaker.

The TDP legislators objected to their Opposition colleagues' behaviour and said they could not go beyond the rules.

At one point, YSRC MLA Mani Gandhi broke the mike on the Speaker's podium, forcing a second adjournment for another 15 minutes.

When the House resumed after the second adjournment, the Speaker suspended Gandhi and his party colleague Siva Prasad Reddy for the day.