IN AGITATION MODE: TRS legislators protesting against the construction of Polavaram project in the Assembly on Tuesday.

HYDERABAD : The bonhomie witnessed among the legislators during the beginning of any Assembly session was missing with Telangana Rashtra Samiti members. Loyalists and rebels did not look each other in the eye on the first day of the budget session on Tuesday.

Rebel MLAs -- Duggiyala Srinivasa Rao, Jayaprakash Reddy and Bandaru Shara Rani -- stayed away from the group as TRS legislature party leader G. Vijayarama Rao led the members into the House sporting the pink colour kanduva. Former Minister S. Santosh Reddy also arrived separately minutes before the Governor commenced his speech. The rebels, however, exchanged pleasantries with their colleagues.

Protest against Polavaram

After the Governor's address, the loyalists displayed placards protesting against the Polavaram project. But, the rebels did not join their colleagues. Instead they were seen chatting with journalists in the lobbies.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said the loyalists had been running them down at every forum and continued to brand them traitors. "We are still part of the TRS and will continue to raise the issues concerning the people of Telangana." He reiterated the demand that TRS president K. Chandrasekhara Rao and party leader A. Narendra should quit the Union Cabinet. Mr. Jayaprakash Reddy said the rebels had their own strategy to function in the House.

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