YSRCP Led by Jagan Walks Out of Andhra Assembly Demanding LoP Recognition
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Synopsis
On Feb 24, YSR Congress Party President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy briefly attended the Andhra Assembly before leading a walkout over demands for their recognition as the main opposition party. This protest highlights ongoing tensions between the YSRCP and the TDP-led coalition government regarding democratic representation.
Key Takeaways
- YSR Congress Party members led by Jagan Mohan Reddy staged a walkout.
- They demand recognition as the main opposition party.
- Governor’s address was interrupted by slogans from YSRCP.
- Jagan Mohan Reddy's attendance was prompted by potential disqualification concerns.
- The YSRCP has only 11 members in a 175-member Assembly.
Amaravati, Feb 24 (NationPress) YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, made a brief appearance in the Assembly on the inaugural day of the Budget session before leading a walkout with his party members.
Jagan Mohan Reddy was present for approximately 11 minutes after the session commenced with an address from Governor S. Abdul Nazeer to both the Assembly and the Council.
The YSRCP legislators attempted to interrupt the Governor's address by shouting slogans, demanding acknowledgment of their party as the primary opposition.
Opposition MLAs could be heard chanting ‘Save democracy’. Shortly after, YSRCP members, under the leadership of Jagan Mohan Reddy, exited the session.
YSRCP leader in the Legislative Council, Botcha Satyanarayana, later informed reporters that the TDP-led coalition government has no choice but to concede their demand for opposition party status to the YSRCP.
"A democracy cannot function without an opposition which is the voice of the people," he stated.
Jagan Mohan Reddy reportedly attended the session on the counsel of constitutional experts due to a recent remark from Deputy Speaker K. Raghu Rama Krishna Raju, suggesting that if the former Chief Minister remained absent from the House, he could face disqualification.
Referencing Article 190 (4) of the Constitution, the Deputy Speaker mentioned that a member who does not attend the House for 60 days without permission would be disqualified.
Jagan Mohan Reddy has been advocating for his recognition as the Leader of Opposition (LoP). He has also approached the High Court requesting orders for the Speaker to acknowledge him as LoP.
The YSRCP previously boycotted the Budget session held in November last year in protest against Speaker Ayyanna Patrudu for refusing to grant LoP status to Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Jagan Mohan Reddy defended the boycott, arguing that they would only receive adequate time in the Assembly to address the public’s concerns if recognized as the main opposition. He accused the TDP-led coalition government of attempting to silence the voice of the opposition.
The only occasion the YSRCP attended the Assembly after losing power to the TDP-led coalition in June 2024 was to take the oath as a member.
The YSRCP holds just 11 seats in the 175-member Assembly, while the TDP, along with coalition partners Jana Sena and BJP, occupies the remaining seats.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and other coalition leaders contended that the established norm requires a party to possess at least 10 percent of the seats in the House for its leader to qualify for the LoP position.
