BRS walkout amidst high drama at first PAC meet chaired by Arekapudi Gandhi

HYDERABAD: Heated exchanges between the ruling Congress and the Opposition BRS marked the first Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting presided over by new chairman Arekapudi Gandhi in the Assembly on Saturday.

The meeting, which began with Gandhi exchanging pleasantries with Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, Legislative Council chairman Gutha Sukender Reddy, Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu and the committee members, saw the BRS members stage a walkout after objecting to his “selection” as the PAC chairman.

To begin with Gandhi expressed delight at being appointed as the PAC chairman, and said that as the panel head he would act responsibly and audit the Budget for the betterment of people.