The much-essential Budget session of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly will commence on 24th February and the State budget is set to be announced on 28th February, but everyone remains concerned with the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and the former Chief Minister, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, amid a continuous buzz and speculations on whether he was coming or rather opted not to.
YS Jagan has been adamant about securing opposition status for the YSRCP, stating that it would give his party more floor time to raise public issues. In protest, he has boycotted previous Assembly sessions, maintaining his stance. With the upcoming Budget session being a key event, the big question remains: Will Jagan and his party MLAs attend, or will they continue their boycott?
Speaker Ayannapatrudu’s Stand on YSRCP’s Opposition Status
Assembly Speaker of Andhra Pradesh Ayyanna Patrudu intervened in the controversy and said the YSRCP does not qualify to be termed a Leader of the Opposition.
The speaker made it clear during his recent visit to Delhi, where he met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Deputy Speaker Raghurama Krishnam Raju, that, under the Assembly rules, a party must have at least 18 MLAs to be eligible for the status of official opposition. He asserted that rules and legislative procedures cannot be altered to accommodate individual demands.
Furthermore, he urged YS Jagan to familiarize himself with Assembly regulations and called on YSRCP MLAs to participate actively in the sessions to voice their constituency’s concerns instead of staying away.
Jagan’s Continued Absence Sparks Debate
Commenting on YS Jagan’s continued absence, Ayannapatrudu raised critical questions, stating,
“Can a leader sit at home and still expect the government to respond in the Assembly? Has this ever happened anywhere else in the country?”
He also dismissed Jagan’s demand for equal speaking time as Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, emphasizing that Assembly rules are not subject to personal preferences.
In addition, Ayannapatrudu warned that any MLA who skips Assembly sessions for 60 consecutive days without valid reasons could face disciplinary action. He stressed that members must submit a formal letter explaining their absence, which would be reviewed based on merit before approval.
What’s Next? Will YS Jagan End His Boycott?
As the Budget session draws closer, the political landscape in Andhra Pradesh is heating up. The biggest question now is: Will YS Jagan and YSRCP MLAs step into the Assembly and engage in discussions, or will they continue their boycott? The answer will unfold in the coming days, shaping the future of the opposition’s role in the state legislature.