VIJAYAWADA: The AP Assembly began its 10-day session in the absence of the YSRC which is boycotting it. The YSRC decision has kicked off a debate at the national level, said several TD legislators. On the inaugural day of the combined monsoon and winter sessions, a debate ensued about the YSRC's absence in TD circles. “The YSRC knows pretty well that it’s efforts will not be considered by the Speaker, but still the decision to boycott has attracted the attention of the entire nation”, said a MLA from East Godavari district. “Their absence was felt like a presence in the House,” said another TD MLA from Palnadu.
When Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao announced a tea-break of 10 minutes, all TD MLAs came to the lobby and the only topic of discussion was the YSRC absence. During their personal interactions with the media too, several TD MLAs said that the session without the opposition YSRC was like entering a battle without an opponent. The session which went on without any opposition was certainly an observational episode for political parties across the country, felt another MLA from Rayalaseema. “YSRC president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has purposefully played this episode of boycott, to get the attention of the country and to highlight the defection politics in Andhra Pradesh”, said a politburo member of the Telugu Desam.
He added, “We may differ with the YSRC or its chief about their unruly behavior but the way the YSRC exposed the open defection policy of our government, has put on an embarrassing situation for our party at the national level.” Expressing almost a similar opinion, another senior TD MLA has stated that the first day of the session was a little limp as they were not able to lambast the YSRC in an effective way. He added that only Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu could reverse the case of Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy in an effective way and explain the developmental politics of the Telugu Desam government.
He expressed concern as to why only 74 MLAs were present on Day 1 of the Assembly session. The YSRC has another point of view. “The defected MLAs are still shown as members of the YSRC in the Assembly bulletin. How can the TD then claim that there was no opposition in the House,” a former minister and YSRC leader questioned sarcastically. Instead, he has suggested to the treasury benches to have a healthy discussion with the YSRC MLAs, as per the Assembly bulletin, till the end of the Assembly sessions.
