YSR Congress boycotts AP Assembly alleging Speaker's 'biased attitude'
Hyderabad: Opposition YSR Congress boycotted the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Friday, in protest against the alleged "biased attitude" of Speaker K Sivaprasad Rao. The issue figured in the Assembly during Question Hour on Friday with member of ruling TDP's ally BJP, P Vishnukumar Raju, saying it is unfortunate that the Opposition stayed away from the House. Observing that the Opposition members were losing an opportunity by not attending the House, he appealed to Opposition Leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy to attend the Assembly. In response, the Speaker said it is the right and responsibility of the public representatives to attend the Legislature and that the matter be left to the party.
The Speaker earlier remarked during a reference to the issue that Opposition is also needed in the Assembly. TDP Whip Kalva Srinivasulu, who spoke later during a debate on drought conditions under Rule 344, criticised the Opposition YSR Congress for boycotting the Assembly. Wondering why should all MLAs stay away from the House when only eight are suspended for their alleged unruly behaviour, he said its their responsibility to attend the Assembly.
Eight members of YSR Congress were suspended on Thursday from AP Legislative Assembly for three days for their "unruly behaviour" following which the Opposition decided to bring a no-confidence motion against the Speaker charging him of being "partial and behaving like a TDP worker".
Following the suspension, YSR Congress complained to Governor ESL Narasimhan and announced its decision to move the no-confidence motion against the Speaker. The party has decided to boycott rest of the Assembly session and attend only when called to discuss the motion.
"It is very shocking and unprecedented that Speaker directly gets involved in a debate and passes a dictum to refrain the Leader of Opposition from talking on a particular subject. He has been behaving like a TDP worker and not in a manner that would uphold the dignity of the Chair," Jagan had said on Thursday.
