Today Attendance – 11 Absent On 11/11?

The assembly sessions in Andhra Pradesh are set to commence from today and the NDA government will table the first budget of its tenure after coming to power in June this year on the very first day itself. While there are many expectations and huge anticipation on how the new dispensation earmarks its funds for several sectors, all eyes are on the attendance of YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and his 10 MLAs.

As expected, Jagan has reportedly decided to boycott the budget sessions beginning today. It is a known fact that the YSRCP has been demanding ‘Opposition Party’ status in the assembly as they are the only party in opposition irrespective of their tally out of 175 seats. But, the ruling party and the assembly speaker didn’t entertain their demands. So, they decided to take a legal route and approached the state High Court to intervene and grant them opposition status.

Sources revealed Jagan will skip the entire assembly sessions, but his remaining 10 MLAs will attend the question hour. However, the party has decided to attend the legislative council sessions where it has got adequate strength to face the ruling party.

The NDA parties claim that Jagan Mohan Reddy fears retaliation and criticism from its MLAs for the bad deeds done by YSR Congress party in the last five years. Jagan attended the assembly only on the first day of session in June this year. He boycotted the sessions from then with an excuse that his party was not recognised as the main opposition.

Jagan’s decision to boycott assembly sessions received huge backlash from his opponents. His sister and Congress party president of AP, YS Sharmila asked all his MLAs to resign if they have no guts to face the ruling party in the assembly.