Former chief ministers of both the Telugu states are facing widespread criticism from various sections for staying away from assembly sessions.
Ever since losing their chief minister posts, neither YSR Congress party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy nor Bharat Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) have shown up in their respective state legislatures.
Though both were elected as MLAs, they have not been speaking on public issues, leaving voters dissatisfied.
In Andhra Pradesh, Jagan has declared he will not step into the Assembly unless he is given Opposition status.
However, the coalition government has repeatedly clarified that, as per constitutional norms, YSRCP does not qualify for such recognition.
In Telangana, KCR has been avoiding Assembly sessions, citing health reasons.
Against this backdrop, Communist Party of India leader K Narayana made strong remarks. He demanded that Jagan and KCR attend assembly sessions as elected MLAs.
“By staying away, you are betraying the very people who voted for you,” he said.
Narayana criticized Jagan for speaking without understanding the constitutional provisions that govern Opposition status.
He asked pointedly, “If you win power, you come to the assembly. If you lose, will you hide your face?”
He stressed that whether in power or out of power, former CMs must attend legislative sessions.
Making a sharp analogy, Narayana said: “An MLA not attending the Assembly after winning is like getting married but refusing to do samsaram (leading a conjugal life with wife).”
