The continued absence of YSR Congress Party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and his MLAs from the state assembly — citing denial of the Leader of Opposition status — has become a recurring topic of heated debate in political circles whenever the House is in session.
Such is the pressure on the YSRCP that some MLAs, during a recent meeting with Jagan, suggested he at least permit them to attend the session, as they were losing credibility in their constituencies.
Jagan reportedly told them he had no objection if they attended under the leadership of senior colleague Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy. However, Peddireddy refused to take the lead, leaving the stalemate unresolved.
While Jagan remains adamant about staying away, the ruling Telugu Desam Party-led coalition has been provoking him and even threatening his MLAs with disqualification for abstaining from the assembly.
Deputy Speaker K Raghu Ramakrishna Raju countered Jagan’s claim that there was no rule mandating disqualification for skipping 60 days of assembly sessions.
Jagan had argued: “Even Chandrababu Naidu stayed away for two and a half years. Was he disqualified?”
Raju responded sharply, stating that Jagan, who has served as MP, opposition leader, and chief minister, must know the rules.
“Any MLA absent without the Speaker’s permission for 60 consecutive days is disqualified under Article 190(4) of the Constitution and Clause 187(2) of the Assembly rules. These rules are publicly available online,” he pointed out.
He added that opposition members’ speaking time depends on their party strength. YSRCP MLAs were allotted two questions per Question Hour, but none showed up.
“If they spoke with decency, they would get more time,” Raju said.
State Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha accused Jagan of depriving his MLAs of even the chance to address the Speaker.
She recalled that during TDP’s stint in opposition, Chandrababu Naidu often walked out, but the other TDP MLAs remained and fought in the House.
Senior TDP leader Yanamala Ramakrishnudu further argued that Jagan’s decision to boycott the assembly after taking oath as MLA itself could amount to disqualification.
Citing Articles 188 and 190(4), he said: “Any MLA absent for 60 straight days can be disqualified.”
Analysts, however, doubt Speaker Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu would actually disqualify Jagan and his MLAs, as such a move could give Jagan unnecessary publicity. Instead, they believe the ruling coalition will keep targeting the YSRCP to remind people that its MLAs are failing to represent their constituencies in the House.
