Jagan seeks LoP recognition in AP Assembly; Highlights procedural deviations

In a four-page letter addressed to Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker, he said the recognition of the floor leader of YSRCLP as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) with associated rights of addressing the matters of grave public concern, with due and sufficient time, imparts the necessary bi-partisanship to the proceedings of the august House and the legitimacy of ensuring participation of divergent and opposing views the policies of the government.

In the absence of such a mechanism, with an overwhelming majority secured by the ruling combine – BJP, TDP and Jana Sena, the proceedings of the Assembly would reflect an echo-chamber of the government and not a place for vibrant debates. “There is already a discussion in the public domain to the effect that I would not be entitled to the position of Leader of Opposition (LoP) on the ground that YSRCLP does not have 10 per cent of the strength of the August House,” he said.

According to Reddy, it is to be noted that the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly notified under Article 208 of the Constitution of India do not prescribe any such mandatory percentage of seats to be secured by a political party for recognising its leader as Leader of Opposition (LoP).

Nor has there been any convention of insistence of 10 per cent strength on the floor of the August House for the opposition party, in the unified State of Andhra Pradesh to grant such recognition as LOP. Instances whereby the undeniable opposition party to the government was treated as such and its leader was granted the Leader of Opposition are as under: (Both in Parliament and State Legislature) -

P. Upendra of TDP was granted the position of LoP in Lok Sabha in the year 1984 even though TDP only secured 30 Seats out of a total of 543 Seats. Congress leader P. Janardhana Reddy was accorded the position of LoP in the AP Legislative Assembly in the year 1994 even though the Indian National Congress (INC) only secured 26 out of a total of 294 seats.

In recent vintage, the Legislative Assembly of the State of Delhi in 2015, has accorded the status of Leader of Opposition (LoP) to the BJP even though they only secured three out of a total of 70 seats.

“I am constrained to address this letter in public interest seeking to exercise my right to speak substantially and substantively with due consideration of sufficient time to air the grievances of people at large. Absent such status and given the hostilities already displayed, my opportunities and duration of time to speak on public issues, would be at the mercy of the ruling combine which has an overwhelming majority and the discretion of the Speaker, who wishes to see me dead,” he added.

“It is hoped that this communication is viewed in the perspective which I intend in the peculiar circumstances of the present numerical composition of the August House. An early response in this regard is solicited,” Jagan Mohan Reddy said.