YSRCP leaders boycott AP Assembly Budget session over denial of Opposition status

Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh Assembly Budget session started here on Monday amid slogans raised by YSRCP MLAs and MLCs demanding Opposition Party status to YSRCP. The party leaders walked out in protest over its denial.

YSR Congress Party (YSCRP) president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy attended the Assembly session along with party legislators. As governor S Abdul Nazeer started addressing the House, the opposition MLAs and MLCs started raising slogans such as ‘save democracy’ and ‘we want justice’.

YSRCP walks out in protest

The YSRCP MLAs gathered near the speaker’s podium as the governor started addressing the House. Even as the governor attempted to continue the speech, the YSRCP MLAs and MLCs walked out in protest.

During his speech, Abdul Nazeer inadvertently mispronounced Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu as "Narendra Chandrababu Naidu." Both ruling and opposition members responded to the mistake, with YSRCP members taking advantage of the opportunity to draw attention to what they described as a disregard for democratic processes.

Speaking outside the Assembly, YSRCP council leader Botcha Satyarayana said, there are only two wings in the House: the coalition parties on one side and the opposition on the other side, with the YSRCP being the natural choice of the Opposition Party.

“We expressed our concern during the governor’s address but there was no response. A democracy cannot function without an Opposition which is the voice of the people. There is no option for the government other than conceding to our demand of giving Opposition Party status to YSRCP,” said Botcha.

Jagan’s visit to Guntur mirchi yard

Speaking about the reaction from the State government after Jagan visited the Guntur mirchi yard to highlight the farmers’ issue, Botcha said, “It was only after his visit that the coalition government gave the impression that they will action. However, nothing significant has happened so far,” he added.

“The coalition has been saying that it is speaking with the Centre on the issue, but what is the outcome? A positive outcome will only happen by persistent questioning from the Opposition,” he said.

He said that Jagan’s visit to the mirchi yard to interact with the farmers has only resulted in cases being filed against the party leaders citing the election code which Jagan has not broken with his visit. “The government has to come to the rescue of chilli farmers who are facing hardships due to a slump in the price,” he said.

Botcha further said that there are other major issues to be highlighted that only an Opposition can raise in the House on behalf of the people. He said people should come to know how only one-and-a-half promise of the ‘Super Six’ promises has been fulfilled.

“This can be effectively done only by the Opposition and if the coalition is not following the basic democratic norms by denying our rightful share in the House, the people’s voice cannot be heard in the full intensity and measure,” he said.

Former Minister Peddireddy Ramachandara Reddy and others were also present during the discussion with the media.