No matter how tightly you compress the highlights of the ongoing budget session of the Puducherry Assembly over the last fortnight, some moments are bound to make the final cut.
There was the newly-nominated MLA, V. Balan, creating quite a flutter over the leak of a private conversation between two MLAs on a social media platform, the normally unflustered Chief Minister almost losing his cool when one of his own, P.M.L. Kalyanasundaram (AINRC), raised a hue and cry over the allotment of licences to liquor shops on National Highways and East Coast Road, and the angry walkout by the AIADMK over fudging of cable TV data and mounting dues to government.
And, it was not just human issues all the way, stray dogs filling the city streets and a truant monkey gone berserk in adjoining villages figured prominently as well.
Quite fittingly, the member who moved a calling attention motion on the street dog menace was A. Anbalagan, who had threatened a weeks ago that he would catch a few of these creatures and let them into the Assembly if the government failed to act. If one MLA — M.Vaithianathan representing Lawspet — recounted how he was once bitten by a stray dog, another — P. Angalane (Thirubhuvanai) —shared his personal tragedy about losing a nephew to full-blown rabies.
At various points in the course of the budget session, the Opposition appeared to be on the verge of putting the Treasury Bench on the mat, but somehow the government has so far escaped getting severely scalded in the cannon fire of its rivals.
However, the most powerful and enduring image of the session, is the manner in which members from political parties are able to sink their differences and present a picture of utmost camaraderie.
This spirit of bonhomie shines through not only outside the Assembly but also during sessions of the Legislature on several occasions reflecting a progressive culture of performing legislative business.
On more than one occasion, MLAs have applauded constructive suggestions from their political opponents. The perfect photographic moment that captured the camaraderie of the House surfaced on Friday when Congress legislator Malladi Krishna Rao representing Yanam constituency invited the attention of all Legislators on the floor of the House when he appeared in a kurta pyjama which he claimed to be ‘Modi dress.’
The attire was the target of a few barbs from the Opposition. However, the moment Mr. Rao stepped out of the House another senior MLA A.M.H. Nazeem expressed his admiration for the ‘Modi dress’ and the two of them chatted for a while.
Journalists who have been covering the Assembly proceedings know well that even though legislators of the ruling and Opposition blocks raise serious allegations against each other during the proceedings, at the end of the day the members greet each other with a broad smile and move on.
The Puducherry Assembly is also no stranger to instances of members with varying political affiliations, whether it is the AINRC, Congress, AIADMK or DMK, sitting side by side and exchanging pleasantries.
In fact, looking on from the press box, one has often wondered just what these animated conversations might be about.
