Budget session from today

The Andhra Pradesh government is expected to announce a couple of new schemes, in addition to the existing 'Rajiv Nagarabata' and 'Rajiv Pallebata' programmes, in the ensuing Budget session of the State Legislative Assembly which will begin tomorrow.

With the Supreme Court's nod to the government coming as a timely respite, the ruling Congress party is now hoping to blunt the criticism of opposition in the Assembly to a great extent. The apex court was acting on a public interest litigation filed against the awarding of irrigation projects.

The 45-day long annual Budget session of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly will begin tomorrow morning with the governor's address. The Budget is scheduled to be presented by finance minister K Rosaiah on February 18.

The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) met here on Sunday evening to finalise the Floor strategy under the chairmanship of chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

Later in the evening, the leaders of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), the alliance partner, and CPI and CPI (M) met the chief minister on matters relating to floor coordination in the wake of the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP)'s possible offensive on issues such as the murder of TD legislator Paritala Ravindra, on the modifications to the free power policy and the new excise policy amongst other issues.

Friendly parties are largely expected to support the government in situations where it could face the onslaught of the TDP, which is in a highly combative mode.

Though the TDP is expected to try to corner the government by raising the Paritala Ravi's assasination apart from other issues, it is to be seen whether the main opposition can gain anything on the issue of law and order as it had already overspent its ammunition after the incident.