YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy is definitely on cloud nine for his party recording a resounding victory in all the municipal elections, particularly in Kuppam, hitherto a bastion of TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, with a huge majority.
But on Thursday, Jagan was a bit disappointed. He wanted to see how the face of Chandrababu Naidu would be after that humiliating defeat of his party in Kuppam municipal elections, which is nothing but a major setback to Naidu personally.
But Naidu abstained from the state assembly on the first day of its winter session that commenced on Thursday. Though he walked from the Secretariat gate to the assembly gate, he did not enter the House and stayed back in his chambers.
He did not even attend the Business Advisory Committee meeting but sent his deputy K Atchannaidu. His absence was conspicuous as the effect of the TDP defeat in Kuppam was visible very clear in him.
But Jagan did not lose any opportunity to take a dig the leader of opposition. Intervening during the discussion on women empowerment, the chief minister said that it would have been better if the Leader of Opposition attended the House.
“We have delayed the proceedings of the House, expecting that Chandrababu Naidu would come to the House. Some people say that it was the Kuppam effect that has kept him away,” Jagan said.
He pointed out that the women of Kuppam had taught Naidu a fitting lesson after the welfare schemes were rolled out directly to their bank accounts without any pilferage in a transparent manner.
“At least now, he should understand the relevance of welfare and transparency instead of putting spokes in welfare schemes exploring all avenues, including litigation,” Jagan said.
Earlier, participating in the debate, MLA Roja said that she salutes the women of Kuppam for their contribution in defeating Chandrababu Naidu and said YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has stood for the cause of women empowerment and executed it with a delivery system that worked in a clock like precision.
