TDP slams YS Jagan’s demand for leader of opposition status, says he could only be floor leader

AMARAVATI: Following the letter by former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to Speaker Ayyanna Patrudu seeking leader of the opposition status, the Telugu Desam Party on Wednesday made it clear that YSRCP doesn’t have the required numbers to be the opposition party in the State Assembly

Finance and Legislative Affairs Minister Payyavula Keshav speaking to media at the secretariat said that Jagan could not be an opposition leader. “If YSRCP got the strength of y one-tenth of the total members in the house, then he will be given the status of leader of the opposition. If Jagan becomes the leader of the opposition, he will get cabinet rank, "he said.

"People have decided that he will not work even as an opposition leader," he said. He recalled that Jagan had said in the House earlier about the qualifications to get the status of leader of the opposition. “What is the use of speaking one way when in power and another when out of power?” he questioned Jagan.

In a statement, Legislative Council member C Ramachandraiah said that YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who got only 11 seats, wanted the status of the main opposition. “He said that only then can the people's voice be effectively heard in the House., Jagan made a strange and absurd claim,” Ramachandraiah observed.

"Shouldn't Jagan give a letter to the Protem Speaker that he has been elected as the leader by 10 MLAs of his party?" How can the Protem Speaker recognise him as the leader of the YSR Legislature Party when he has not given the letter?” he pointed out.

“This Government has given you respect by allowing your car inside unlike other MLAs. Jagan said that there is no provision for 10 percent seats to be recognised as the leader of the main opposition. But is there any rule or regulation to give opposition status to you?” the MLC said.

He clarified that the comments said to have been made by Ayyanna Patrudu against Jagan were made before he became Speaker. “Those are his political comments before taking oath as Speaker. This is nothing but plain distortion of facts,” he said adding that Jagan should have set a benchmark by following parliamentary traditions and democratic rules when he was in power.