The Hindu : Front Page : Makthal bypoll: Chief Minister's move for unanimous election

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Thursday, Sep 29, 2005

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Makthal bypoll: Chief Minister's move for unanimous election

Special Correspondent

Assembly pays tributes to C. Narsi Reddy; leaders condemn killing

EXCHANGING PLEASANTRIES: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy greeting Leader of the Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu at the Jubilee Hall in Hyderabad on Wednesday at a breakfast meeting hosted by the Speaker. Minister for Finance K. Rosaiah is in t he middle. — Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

HYDERABAD: The election of the Congress nominee from Makthal constituency--represented by the slain MLA Chittem Narsi Reddy--is likely to be unanimous, with the Telugu Desam supporting a proposal to this effect mooted by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

Moving the condolence motion on the death of Narsi Reddy, the Chief Minister referred to the unanimous election following the killing of Congress MLA Ragya Naik, and urged all parties to back the policy. In his response, Leader of the Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu (TDP) said the party would cooperate if all parties agreed.

When Sports Minister M. Satyanarayana Rao wondered whether Mr. Naidu was extending a conditional support, TDP Deputy leader T. Devender Goud clarified that Mr. Naidu wanted the Congress to take the initiative in holding discussions with other parties to ensure unanimity. In all, 25 legislators, including Narsi Reddy's daughter D. K. Aruna (Smajwadi Party), spoke on the condolence motion. Speaker K.R. Suresh Reddy read out the condolence resolution at the end. Earlier, condemning the killing of Narsi Reddy and ten others on Independence Day, Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy paid glowing tributes to the slain leader. He was a friend of all and frankly aired his views. He charged extremists with killing Reddy without reason. Stating that he became a "soft target", he urged all democratic-minded people to condemn it.

Glowing tributes

He criticised the remarks made by outlawed Virasam leaders in the wake of the killing.

Mr. Naidu and floor leaders of all parties condemned the killing, and recalled Narsi Reddy's services in various capacities.

G. Vijayarama Rao (TRS) said Narsi Reddy was a strong votary of separate Telangana and realising it would be an appropriate tribute. N. Narasimaiah (CPI-M) wanted extremism to be treated as a socio-economic problem. Ch.Venkata Reddy (CPI) criticised Maoists for giving a go-by to their ideology, and wanted the Government to view seriously anti-naxal oufits like Narsa Cobra. Akbaruddin Owaisi (MIM) demanded lifting of the ban on Virasam, release of Varavara Rao and resumption of talks with Maoists.

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