‘Democracy cannot function without an Opposition’ – In Andhra, YSRCP pitches itself as principal Opposition, disrupts Guv’s address
He accused the state government of “targeting” the party, and questioned the government on the drop in the prices of red chillies in the state.
Written by Sreenivas Janyala
Hyderabad | Updated: February 25, 2025 01:59 AM IST
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YSR Congress Party stages a walkout during the Governor's address in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. (Source: X/@YSRCParty)
Stormy scenes were witnessed during Governor S Abdul Nazeer’s address to a joint session of the Andhra Pradesh’s Legislative Council and Assembly Monday, with YSR Congress Party staging a walkout over not being granted the status of the principal Opposition party.
The YSRCP led by former chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy faced a rout in the May 2024 Assembly elections, securing only 11 of 175 seats, down from the 151 that it won in the previous election.
According to leaders of the ruling Telugu Desam Party, a political party requires at least 18 members to get the chief Opposition status in the Assembly. A TDP leader also added: “Jagan has not attended even a single assembly session since his party’s defeat”.
After the YSRCP staged a noisy walkout, leaders of the TDP-led National Democratic Alliance, including Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM K Pawan Kalyan, condemned the move.
Reiterating the party’s demand, YSRCP leader Botsa Satyanarayana said the party was “the natural choice” of principal Opposition in the Assembly, and accused the coalition government of trying to silence them.
Speaking outside the Assembly, Satyanarayana, who is the YSRCP Council leader, said: “We expressed our concern during the Governor’s address but there was no response. A democracy cannot function without an Opposition which is the voice of the people”.
He accused the state government of “targeting” the party, and questioned the government on the drop in the prices of red chillies in the state.
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“The (ruling) coalition has been saying that it’s speaking with the Centre on the issue of fair prices for red chillies in the state, but what’s been the outcome? A positive outcome would be there only by persistent questioning from the Opposition. While our leader (Jagan) visited the Mirchi Yard to interact with the farmers, cases were foisted citing election code.”
Such issues, he claimed, can only be highlighted by the Opposition.
“If the (ruling) coalition is not following the basic democratic norms, people’s voice cannot be heard in the full intensity and measure,” he claimed.
Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance.
Expertise and Experience
Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues:
High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules.
Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes.
Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak.
Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More
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