YSRCP to attend new Parliament building inauguration, BRS likely to give it a miss

It was unlikely that Jagan Mohan Reddy would have gone against the Modi government a day after it sanctioned the biggest-ever tranche of funds to Andhra Pradesh since the state’s bifurcation in 2014.

The YSRCP has preferred to maintain a policy of equidistance from both the BJP and the Opposition and refused to get into the rest of the Opposition’s manoeuvres to unite against the Narendra Modi-led government. (Pulse)

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Nineteen Opposition parties issued a joint statement on Wednesday saying they will skip the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28 since Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to unveil it and not President Droupadi Murmu. While the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has said it won’t follow in their footsteps, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), which is engaged in an acrimonious fight against the BJP in Telangana, will give the event a miss, according to senior leaders in the party. But the BRS has not issued an official statement. Both parties were not among the joint statement’s signatories.

Andhra Pradesh CM and YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in an official statement congratulated PM Modi for dedicating the new Parliament building to the nation. “Parliament, being the temple of democracy, reflects our nation’s soul and belongs to the people of our country and all the political parties. Boycotting such an auspicious event is not in the true spirit of democracy. Setting aside all political differences, I request that all political parties attend this glorious event. In the true spirit of democracy, my party will attend this historic event,” he said.

It was unlikely that the YSRCP would have gone against the Modi government a day after it approved the biggest-ever tranche of funds to Andhra Pradesh since the state’s bifurcation in June 2014. The Union government on Tuesday disbursed Rs 10,460 crore as compensation for the revenue deficit the state suffered following the creation of Telangana. The funds had not been released earlier despite several visits by former CM N Chandrababu Naidu to Delhi during his tenure from 2014 to 2019 and Jagan’s frequent visits recently.

At present, the CM’s nephew and the YSRCP’s Kadapa MP Avinash Reddy is staying put in a hospital where his mother is admitted to avoid appearing before the CBI in connection with a murder case probe.

Senior BRS leaders said the party would not attend the event but the party has not yet issued an official statement. Earlier in the afternoon, BRS sources said the party might send a representative to the event if President or Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurate the new Parliament building.

Meanwhile, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi said the Lok Sabha Speaker should inaugurate the building. “The Prime Minister should show his large-heartedness and let the Lok Sabha Speaker who is the custodian of the Parliament inaugurate it. If the PM believes in the Constitution, and if he is a Constitutionalist, then it should be the Lok Sabha Speaker who should inaugurate it. The theory of separation of powers clearly tells us that the legislature is independent of the Executive and Judiciary and both should not interfere in Legislative matters. The theory of separation of powers is part of the basic structure of our Constitution. The PM should not enter into the domain of the legislature. If the Speaker inaugurates, then the AIMIM will be there but if the PM wants to inaugurate then we will be compelled to boycott it,” said the Hyderabad MP.

Sreenivas Janyala

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