Rama Krishna Sangem
Ruling BRS led by KCR will not participate in the inauguration of new parliament building on May 28, Sunday. But, it will not side with other opposition parties camp led by Congress, who insist the building must be opened by President Draupadi Murmu. As of May 26, Friday, as many as 21 opposition parties have announced boycott of the new parliament inauguration, and 25 parties led by BJP will turn up.
A decision on BRS not attending the inaugural has been taken by party president and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, but it hasn’t been announced officially. A formal announcement on the party stand may be made by BRS parliamentary party leader K Keshava Rao on May 27, Saturday, A senior government functionary too confirmed to Excel India that BRS will stay away from the parliament inaugural.
BRS’ reason for not attending the event is slightly different from that of other opposition parties. KCR wants the new parliament building to be named after BR Ambedkar, acknowledging the late leader’s contributions. KCR named the newly built state Secretariat after BR Amebdkar and challenged the Centre to do the same with the new parliament building.
“Other opposition parties have been asking that the building should be opened by President Murmu, the first citizen as well as an Adivasi woman, instead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating it. But, we at BRS are of the view that the new parliament should have been named after BR Ambedkar,” said the senior functionary, who refused to be quoted.
Shrill goes up
The shrill from both the opposition and the ruling parties on the new parliament inauguration has gone up in the last few days. The number of opposition parties which will boycott went up from 19 to 21 by Friday, and the number the parties which announced they will be there at the event stand at 25. BRS will also keep away from the inauguration. Both YSR Congress and TDP from AP will attend the inauguration.
BSP’s Mayawati has announced her support to the BJP on this issue, but indicated personally she may not be there at the event due to preoccupation with her party review meetings. JD(S) senior leader and former PM Deve Gowda will be going to the new parliament inauguration not as a party representative, but as a former PM of the country. This inaugural event has broadly outlined the contours of political divide in the country.
