YSRCP Chief Jagan Mohan Reddy Writes To AP Assembly Speaker, Seeks Recognition As Leader Of Opposition

Jagan Mohan Reddy criticised the sequence of events during the recent swearing-in of ministers, asserting it was against tradition to make him take oath as a member of the assembly afterward.

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has requested Assembly Speaker C. Ayyannapatrudu to recognise him as the Leader of the Opposition and his party as the principal opposition party. This plea was made in a letter sent by Reddy to the speaker on Tuesday.

In his letter, Reddy emphasised that the law mandates recognition for the party with the highest number of seats in the opposition. He argued that no legal requirement specifies a minimum of 10 percent of seats for conferring principal opposition status, citing that such a practice is not followed in Parliament or the state assembly, as per a report on PTI.

Reddy criticised the sequence of events during the recent swearing-in of ministers, asserting it was against tradition to make him take oath as a member of the assembly afterward. He stated, "Indubitably, YSRCP is the sole party in opposition to the ruling coalition comprising TDP-JSP-BJP, which was also a pre-electoral alliance. The sequence followed for the process held on 21.06.2024 clearly discloses the intent of the floor leaders of the ruling combine to deny YSRCLP the status of principal opposition party and the concomitant status of LoP to its floor leader."

He accused the ruling NDA alliance of TDP, BJP, and Janasena of deciding not to confer him the status of Leader of the Opposition. Reddy also alleged hostility from the ruling alliance and the speaker, noting that videos of the speaker allegedly inciting violence against him had gone viral. "In this backdrop, I don’t see the possibility of opening my mouth in the assembly. The recognition as principal opposition will only enable us to voice people’s problems in the house," Reddy added.

Reddy referenced the Andhra Pradesh Payment of Salaries and Pension and Removal of Disqualifications Act, 1953, stating that it provides a clear definition of the principal opposition party. He stressed that according to the legislation, YSRCP is the principal and only opposition party in the assembly, and its leader should be recognized as the Leader of the Opposition by the speaker.

Meanwhile, the YSRCP faced a significant defeat in the recent elections, securing only 11 assembly seats.