YSR Congress party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who has been boycotting the state assembly sessions along with his party MLAs since the Telugu Desam Party-led coalition came to power in June 2024, has taken a crucial decision this time.
After staging a walkout from the assembly on the first day of the budget session on Wednesday, Jagan Mohan Reddy held a meeting with YSRCP MLAs and MLCs to discuss the party’s strategy for the ongoing session.
According to party sources, legislators have been given the option to attend assembly proceedings, if they are interested, while MLCs have been directed to strongly raise issues in the Legislative Council, including the privatisation of medical colleges, alleged attacks on party leaders’ residences, and the state’s financial situation.
Apparently, some of the MLAs have expressed view that it would be better to attend the assembly session and question the government, rather than staying away from the House, which will send a wrong signal to the people.
“If we don’t go, the TDP-led coalition will bulldoze the issues, particularly the latest controversy over Tirumala ghee adulteration. If we are there, we can at least launch a counter-attack and that will send a strong message to the people,” a party leader said.
Another reason for Jagan’s change of mind on the MLAs attending the assembly session was the decision taken by legislative assembly speaker Ch Ayyanna Patrudu to introduce a key administrative reform: the implementation of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based digital attendance system for legislators, starting from this budget session.
State assembly secretary general S Prasanna Kumar issued a notification stating that as per the directions of the Speaker, the AI-based digital attendance system will be implemented from Wednesday.
Under the new system, members will no longer be required to sign the physical attendance register, which has now been discontinued and instead, their attendance is marked through AI-based facial recognition system.
In this system, attendance will be recorded only after a member takes their designated seat inside the assembly.
The system will track how long each legislator remains present in the House, thereby preventing members from arriving late or leaving before the conclusion of proceedings without being recorded.
The new attendance mechanism uses advanced facial recognition technology. PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras have been installed inside the assembly to facilitate accurate identification and monitoring of members’ presence.
The decision has generated significant interest as the session begins, with many viewing it as a step towards enhancing accountability and transparency in legislative functioning.
The move comes amid discussions that some YSRCP legislators had allegedly been signing attendance registers outside the House without attending proceedings and still drawing salaries and allowances.
The Speaker had earlier raised this issue at the 86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference held in Uttar Pradesh, suggesting the implementation of a “no work, no pay” policy for members who do not attend the assembly and even proposing the introduction of a “right to recall” mechanism if necessary.
