Former Minister and senior MLA T. Padma Rao has been elected Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Padma Rao has been elected unanimously as no other nomination had been filed for the post.
The main Opposition Congress, the BJP and the MIM supported the candidature of Mr. Padma Rao for the post.
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Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy announced Mr. Padma Rao’s election to the post after the proceedings commenced on Monday.
The new Deputy Speaker was conducted to the Chair by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who was accompanied by Opposition leader Mallu Bhattivikramarka, Legislative Affairs Minister V. Prashanth Reddy, MIM’s Syed Ahmed Pasha Qadri and T. Raja Singh of the BJP. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister recalled his almost two-decades association with Mr. Padma Rao and the contribution he made for the downtrodden, especially the toddy tappers during his stint as Excise Minister in the previous Cabinet.
It was because of the insistence of Mr. Padma Rao the government had waived tree tax for toddy tappers and ensured that ex-gratia was instituted for tappers who die in harness and those suffering permanent disabilities.
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Mr. Bhatti recalled the three-time MLA’s association with the Congress as well as his active role as trade union leader and urged the Deputy Speaker to adopt an unbiased approach giving opportunity to all sides in the House.