Andhra Governor to address legislature through video conferencing

Amaravati, June 15 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswabhushan Harichandan is set to become perhaps the first Governor of any state in India to address the state legislature through video conferencing.

The budget session of the legislature will begin on Tuesday with the customary address by the Governor.

Harichandan will address the joint session of Assembly and Council from Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the governor in Vijayawada.

Andhra Pradesh is also set to become the first state to hold its legislature session after the Covid-19 pandemic breakout.

The decision to have the governor’s remote address was taken in view of the current Covid-19 situation.

Seating arrangements have also been changed in both the houses to ensure social distancing.

Assembly Speaker T. Seetharam said that every seat in the Assembly and Council will be sanitised.

Governor Chief Whip G. Sreekanth Reddy said arrangements were in place to conduct a medical test of every legislator. He said no visitors will be allowed during this session while the media would be allowed to cover the proceedings only from the press gallery.

It is likely to be a short session. Both the houses will be adjourned after the Governor’s address.

Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting will be held after this to decide the duration and agenda of the session.

Finance Minister B. Rajendranath will present the budget for 2020-21 in the Assembly in the afternoon session.

The government could not present the full budget in March due to the coronavirus crisis. It instead issued an ordinance for vote on account for the three month period ending June 30.

–IANS

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