Andhra makes history with first legislature session in Amaravati

History was made in this new Andhra Pradesh capital on Monday with the beginning of first session of the state assembly and state council.

Governor E. S.L. Narasimhan addressed the joint session of the two houses at the new legislature building, which has come up at Velagapudi village near the interim state secretariat.

The new building was abuzz with activity and festive atmosphere prevailed as members of both the houses arrived to attend the first day of the budget session.

Members of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and its alliance partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and lone opposition YSR Congress Party witnessed the historic moment.

The state government, which shifted the administration from Hyderabad to Amaravati last year, completed the legislature building in a record time.

The Governor, in his address, said the golden moment would be etched for forever in the state's history.

Narasimhan said undaunted by the challenges post bifurcation, the government converted every crisis into an opportunity.

He claimed that the state was marching ahead the path of all-round development despite the challenges including budgetary constraints, infrastructure deficiencies and unresolved issues arising from State Reorganization Act.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said that holding the legislature session on "our soil" is a historic moment.

He said though the state had 10 years to run the administration from Hyderabad, his government got it shifted in two-and-half years. He claimed that within a short period, it emerged as one of the front ranking states in the country.

Meanwhile, the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the legislature decided to conduct the session for 14 days.

The general and agriculture budgets for 2017-18 will be presented on March 13.

--IANS

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