If That’s the Case, Didn’t Jagan Say Chandrababu Wouldn’t Have Opposition Status Back Then?: Nara Lokesh
Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh has responded to the statements made by YSRCP leaders, who have insisted that they will attend Assembly sessions only if they are granted the status of the official opposition. Speaking in the Legislative Council, Lokesh stated that members had raised the issue of opposition status for discussion, but clarified that parliamentary guidelines must be followed in a democracy.
He pointed to the Lok Sabha Speaker’s Directions, stating that Page 62, Section 121(c) of the document clearly specifies that a party must have at least one-tenth of the total members of the House to be recognized as the official opposition. He mocked former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, suggesting that he might be unaware of these regulations.
Lokesh further referenced the 2009 Assembly guidelines, stating that Page 19, Section 56 includes similar provisions. He highlighted that on June 13, 2019, when the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had 23 MLAs in the Assembly, removing five members left them with 18 MLAs, which meant that their leader, N. Chandrababu Naidu, would not qualify for opposition leader status. "Didn’t Jagan himself say in the Assembly that Chandrababu would lose opposition status in such a case? Then how can you demand it today?" Lokesh questioned.
Addressing past instances of protest, Lokesh emphasized that while TDP had opposed government policies on various occasions, they never resorted to throwing papers at the Governor. He remarked that such an incident has only happened twice in Andhra Pradesh’s history, with the first occurring during the state bifurcation. Lokesh asserted that the TDP had always treated the Governor with respect and that his address to the Assembly was delivered upon their request.
He urged the opposition to engage in debates on public issues, criticizing YSRCP legislators for boycotting the Assembly session. "Running away is not the right approach," he stated. Lokesh also addressed allegations regarding Vice-Chancellors (VCs), stating that he would review the relevant files as per their request and initiate an inquiry if the claims proved true. However, he accused the opposition of lacking sincerity when it came to addressing public concerns.
Lokesh reassured that the government is open to correcting minor mistakes and emphasized the need for discussions in both the Assembly and the Legislative Council on key issues.
He also referred to the Governor’s address, which included the mention of the Super-6 welfare initiatives on Page 2, reaffirming the government's commitment to implementing these programs. Lokesh reiterated that the administration remains dedicated to fulfilling the promises made during the TDP’s election campaign, particularly in the education sector. "In the coming days, we will move forward with a well-structured plan to achieve Swarnandhra (Golden Andhra Pradesh)," he stated.