Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker Ayyanna Patrudu declared that YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is free to challenge the denial of his Leader of the Opposition (LoP) status in the courts. However, Patrudu firmly stated that he would not make any decisions out of fear, as he is strictly bound by assembly rules and regulations.
Patrudu highlighted that Jagan Mohan Reddy would only qualify for the LoP position if the YSRCP commanded the necessary numbers in the House. He emphasized, “The fact that the YSRCP currently holds only 11 MLAs cannot be overlooked.”
During a session focused on law and order in the Assembly, Mr. Patrudu expressed his disapproval of Mr. Mohan Reddy’s persistent absence from the Assembly and his reported efforts to prevent other YSRCP MLAs from attending. He deemed such actions unacceptable.
The Speaker reminded everyone that political victories and defeats are an inherent part of the democratic process, citing examples of prominent leaders like Indira Gandhi and N.T. Rama Rao, who also experienced electoral setbacks.
Patrudu invoked the legacy of politicians who upheld strong values, such as Sardar Gouthu Latchanna. He recalled that Latchanna’s Swatantra Party secured 60 Assembly constituencies in 1978 in the then-unified Andhra Pradesh, earning him LoP recognition.
However, Latchanna voluntarily resigned from the LoP post after several MLAs defected from his party, acknowledging that he no longer met the eligibility criteria. Patrudu presented this as an example of the principled politics once practiced in Andhra Pradesh.
Contrasting this with the current situation, Patrudu stated, “Here is a leader [Jagan Mohan Reddy] who continues to demand LoP status despite his party clearly lacking the required numbers in the Assembly. He must remember that my actions are dictated by the established rules.” He concluded by advising the YSRCP chief that, as elected MLAs, both he and his party members are accountable to their constituents.