Hyderabad: TRS MLA from Secunderabad, Padma Rao Goud has been elected unanimously as the Deputy Speaker of the Telangana State Legislative Assembly.
This was announced by Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy in the House on Monday. Immediately after the announcement, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, Leader of Opposition Bhatti Vikramarka and BJP MLA Raja Singh accompanied Padma Rao Goud to the Chair.
The Speaker said that till the closing of nomination on Saturday only nomination of Padma Rao Goud was received, as there is no other candidate filed nomination, the election for the Deputy Speaker post became unanimous.
Speaking on this occasion, the Chief Minister said that Padma Rao Goud was in forefront during the struggle for the separate State for Telangana. He joined the TRS party in the year 2001 and got elected as MLA in 2004. He was defeated in 2009 elections, but got re-elected in 2014 and 2018 elections.
He had served as the Excise Minister in the last Cabinet and re-opening of Toddy shops in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad which were closed during the earlier Congress period was his big achievement. With his move, he said lakh of workers of toddy tappers were benefitted.
Before joining TRS party, he was the Corporator for two times in GHMC. In his constituency, he was very close to the people and worked hard to solve their problems.
Leader of Opposition, Bhatti Vikramarka said that Padma Rao Goud started his political career with the Congress party. He was attracted to the slogan of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of “Garibi Hatao” and worked for eradication of poverty.
Stating that he had also served Deputy Speaker of Assembly, Bhatti urged Padma Rao to perform his duties in a non-partisan manner.
Home Minister Mohd. Mahmood Ali, BJP Member Raja Singh, Ministers V.Prashant Reddy, Talasani Srinivas Yadav and other members also spoke. (INN)