Bhongir MP Kiran Kumar named top Parliament performer, followed by Owaisi, DK Aruna

New Delhi/Hyderabad: Three MPs from Telangana have been named top performers in the Parliament Winter Session, according to a performance review of the 18th Lok Sabha by PRS Legislative Research.

According to the report, Telangana’s 17 Lok Sabha members and its Rajya Sabha representatives played a significant role in this winter session’s deliberations.

Who are the top performers among Telangana MPs?

Congress MP from Bhongir Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy is the top-performing MP from Telangana State, as per the PRS Legislative Research report.

Hyderabad AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi and BJP MP from Mahabubnagar DK Aruna are second in the list of top performers from Telangana.

Participation in debates

Telangana MPs maintained an average attendance of 88 per cent, which is slightly higher than the national average of 87 per cent.

Vaddiraju Ravichandra (BRS) participated in the historic special discussion marking the 150th anniversary of the national song, Vande Mataram.

Anil Kumar Yadav Mandadi (INC) maintained a perfect 100 per cent attendance during the session. He raised critical issues, including demands for an IIM in Hyderabad, the expediting of railway projects under the Reorganisation Act and concerns over rising air pollution.

Speaking up about local governance

While national issues took centrestage in Delhi, the Telangana State saw a massive 85.3 per cent turnout in the Gram Panchayat elections, where Congress-backed candidates won roughly 66 per cent of the panchayats.

Productivity of the Winter Session

The Winter Session of Parliament concluded on December 19 as both Houses were adjourned sine die, marking a period of intense legislative activity and historic debates, according to a report by PRS Legislative Research.

Despite frequent disruptions, the Lok Sabha recorded a productivity of 111 per cent, while the Rajya Sabha surpassed it with 121 per cent productivity, functioning for approximately 92 hours.

What are the Legislative Bills that were passed?

The session was defined by the passage of several transformative bills:

1. VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025: In a major move, Parliament replaced the 20-year-old MGNREGA with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin). The new law increases guaranteed employment from 100 to 125 days per household for unskilled manual work.

2. SHANTI Bill, 2025: The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill was passed to open the civil nuclear sector for private participation, aiming for a 100 GW nuclear power target.

3. Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025: This legislation allows for 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the insurance sector, up from 74 per cent, to drive universal insurance coverage by 2047.

Sessions of reflection

The session also included two-day special discussions on Electoral Reforms and the 150th Anniversary of Vande Mataram, the latter seeing participation from 82 members across both Houses. Despite the high productivity, Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan expressed concern over ‘unbecoming’ conduct, citing instances of paper tearing and slogan shouting during crucial ministerial replies.

Protests at and inside the Parliament

The winter session of Parliament also witnessed protests:

- 12-hour overnight dharna: Opposition parties staged a 12-hour overnight protest at the Makar Gate (Parliament complex) on Thursday, December 18, 2024.

- Protests against Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill (VB-G RAM G Bill), which replaced the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

- On December 9, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs held a silent protest in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan to protest against comments made by the Prime Minister regarding Bengal icons Rabindranath Tagore and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.

- Beyond the demonstrations outside and in the halls, the session saw repeated disruptions where members stormed the well of the House, tore copies of Bills and threw papers.