Pulivendula MLA and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is ready to face disqualification from the Legislative Assembly of the state for not attending the sessions over denial of Opposition Party status by the ruling party and its speaker.
The YSR Congress party chief held a press meet on Wednesday and criticised the Chandrababu Naidu’s government for failing to implement the poll promises even after six months and also claimed that there is no mention of the Super Six schemes in the state budget that was tabled a few days ago in the ongoing assembly sessions. He said that it would cost 74,000 Crores per year to fulfil the promises in the manifesto of NDA government but there is no budget allocation to implement them.
On remaining absent from assembly sessions, Jagan defended his decision and remained optimistic about the intervention of the High Court to grant the Opposition Status to his party which is the only opposition in the house. He said the Court will definitely agree with the party’s contention and direct the government to recognise him as the Leader of Opposition.
When the media personnel questioned Jagan over possible disqualification from the house for his continued absence, he replied that the ruling party has no right to carry out such a measure and said he is ready to face anything.
It is a known fact that Jagan Mohan Reddy decided to skip assembly sessions after taking oath as MLA on the first day of the house in June this year as the Speaker didn’t confer the opposition party status to YSRCP due to lack of adequate MLAs on its side. The YSRCP filed a plea in the High Court to intervene and grant the Opposition status. However, the Court didn’t pass any judgement so far.
Meanwhile, Jagan decided not to enter the assembly as he feels that there won’t be much use to take part in the sessions as an MLA. He reasons that the speaker won’t give him much time to voice the issues without the status of Opposition Leader.
How long will Jagan skip the assembly remains to be seen. Will he ever dare to attend the house or will the Court’s decision come in his favour?