Senior leader of YSR Congress Party and former minister Botsa Satyanarayana, soon after elected as MLA from Visakha local bodies constitution unopposed, party chief and former chief minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy appointed him as party’s leader in the Legislative Council. Thus, he will enjoy the status of Leader of Opposition.
He took oath as a member of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council on Wednesday. Council Chairman K. Moshenu Raju administered the oath to Satyanarayana at his chambers in the Council building.
Before taking the oath, the former minister met YSR Congress Party chief Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who congratulated him on his victory as MLC. On this occasion, he announced his appointment as party’s floor leader. Earlier, party’s floor leader Lella Appi Reddy submitted his resignation to Council Chairman Moshenu Raju, paving way for Satyanarayana’s elevation.
YSRCP leaders including MLC Kumbha Ravibabu, MLAs R. Matsyalingam, Vishweshwar Raju, Visakhapatnam ZP Chairman Jalli Subhadra, former ministers Kurasala Kannababu, Gudivada Amarnath, Budi Mutyala Naidu, Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao, and Karumuri Nageswara Rao were present when Botsa met the former chief minister.
Botsa Satyanarayana was declared elected without contest on Friday as the ruling NDA did not field its candidate. As YSRCP had more than 530 votes out of the total 836 votes in the combined Visakhapatnam district (including Anakapalli and Alluri Sitarama Raju districts), the TDP and its allies Jana Sena and BJP decided to stay away from the contest.
An independent candidate Sheikh Shafiullah, who had filed his nomination, withdrew from the contest, paving the way for the unanimous election of the former minister. The by-election was scheduled for August 30 to fill the vacancy arising out of the disqualification of Chennuboina Srinivasa Rao.
Srinivasa Rao, whose real name is Vamsi Krishna Yadav, was disqualified as MLC by the Council Chairman in March under the anti-defection law after he quit YSRCP to join Jana Sena Party.
Srinivasa Rao was elected to the Assembly on Jana Sena ticket from Visakhapatnam South constituency in the May 13 elections. Botsa Satynarayana will remain MLC for three years.