RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM:
Sparks fly as YSRC members target Mayor on pension distribution
The Extended Master Plan covering 10 more villages in the Municipal Corporation of Rajamahendravaram was unanimously approved at the general body meeting held here on Wednesday after suspension of the entire Opposition members. With this, the total number of village panchayats merged with the corporation went up to 23.
The council meeting witnessed pandemonium from the beginning on distribution of pensions in different wards and the main Opposition party YSRC targeted Mayor Pantam Rajani Sehasai.
Bahujana Samajawadi Party’s member Barre Anu Helunia staged a silent protest on the same issue.
Before the beginning of the meeting, YSRC activists obstructed the vehicles of Mayor, MLA and MLC while they were entering the corporation hall and the police took the activists into custody and later released them.
When the meeting began at 10.30 a.m., the YSR Congress corporators, led by deputy floor leader Medapati Sharmila Reddy, came down heavily on old-age pensions.
When the stalemate continued for an hour, the Mayor directed YSRC members and the BSP member to leave the council hall.
Agitating members were bodily lifted out of the council premises.
During the debate, there was an exchange of words between Rajamahendravaram rural MLA Gorantal Butchaiah Chowdary and YSRC floor leader Sharmila Reddy.
Ms. Sharmila Reddy alleged that most of the pensions were sanctioned in the ruling party wards ignoring wards being represented by the Opposition parties.
Heated exchanges
There were also heated discussions on the revised master plan at the meeting. Some corporators complained that the suggestions made by the members in regard to the revised master plan were not taken into account while sending it to the government.
Rajamahendravaram Rural MLA Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary said that the suggestions made by the members must be included in the master plan.