YSRCP Legislators Stage Dramatic Walkout from Andhra Assembly
In a significant political development, legislators from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), led by former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, staged a coordinated walkout from the Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly on Wednesday. The protest occurred shortly after Governor S Abdul Nazeer began his address to the house, marking a tense start to the session.
Demand for Principal Opposition Status
The opposition legislators raised loud slogans inside the assembly hall, demanding that the YSRCP be granted principal opposition status to effectively raise the people's issues. After waiting for approximately 10 minutes without a response, Jagan Mohan Reddy and his party members exited the assembly in a show of dissent.
Earlier in the day, all opposition MLAs and MLCs had arrived at the assembly in a organized procession, carrying banners and placards that highlighted their demand. Jagan Mohan Reddy himself was seen holding a placard that explicitly called for the YSRCP to be recognized as the main opposition party in the assembly.
Criticism of State Government
Botcha Satyanarayana, the opposition leader in the legislative council, strongly criticized the state government. He accused the administration of neither maintaining law and order nor allowing the opposition to voice concerns in the house. Satyanarayana alleged that the government is deliberately withholding the leader of the opposition status from Jagan Mohan Reddy due to fear of facing him in legislative debates.
He emphasized that a government should be prepared to accept criticism to correct its course and improve governance. Satyanarayana further lashed out at the administration for allegedly curbing the voices of both the opposition and common citizens, claiming that false cases have been implicated against YSRCP leaders and activists solely for expressing dissent.
Party Unity and Internal Discussions
Suspended YSRCP MLC Duvvada Srinivas from Srikakulam district joined the party legislators' rally and interacted with party chief Jagan Mohan Reddy. Srinivas was observed requesting time to discuss internal party issues with the supremo. According to sources, Jagan Mohan Reddy agreed to meet him, indicating ongoing internal party engagements amidst the public protest.
Speaker's Response
Responding to the YSRCP's boycott, Assembly Speaker Ayyanna Patrudu made a sarcastic remark, noting that the 11 YSRCP members could not stay more than 11 minutes in the assembly. He urged all members to maintain the decorum of the house and actively participate in deliberations for the benefit of the state.
This walkout underscores the deepening political rift in Andhra Pradesh, with the YSRCP intensifying its demand for formal opposition recognition to hold the government accountable. The incident highlights ongoing tensions in the state's political landscape, affecting legislative proceedings and public discourse.
