YSR Congress party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has not been attending the assembly sessions ever since he lost power in the state assembly elections in June.
Jagan came to the assembly only twice – first on the day one, when he took oath as Pulivendula MLA and next on July 22, when he made a brief presence in the house to protest the address of governor Abdul Nazeer before boycotting it.
He told his party MLAs that there is no point in attending the assembly when he is not acknowledged as the leader of the opposition. Moreover, because of the less strength in the house for the YSRCP, he won’t get enough time to speak and attack the TDP government.
But speaker Ch Ayyanna Patrudu has another reason why Jagan doesn’t want to attend the assembly sessions.
“Jagan does not like to call me “Speaker Sir” and greet me with folded hands. He doesn’t want to see my face, let alone greet me with courtesy,” he said.
Ayyanna challenged Jagan to come to the assembly if what he was suspecting was not correct.
“Within the House, every member has to greet the chair with folded hands. Even the chief minister is not an exception. But Jagan is an arrogant leader. He doesn’t want to display this courtesy,” he said.
He asked Jagan to attend the state assembly sessions scheduled to be held from November 11.
“Let Jagan come. I shall have a friendly chat with him,” the Speaker said.