Jagan should conduct himself in Assembly as per rules, says Speaker Ayyanna Patrudu

Jagan Mohan Reddy and YSRCP MLAs should fulfill their mandate if they wish that no action should be taken against them for being continuously absent in the Assembly for a specified number of days, says Speaker Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu.
| Photo Credit: File Photo

VIJAYAWADA

Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu ridiculed YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s argument that he should be given equal time to speak on the floor of the House on par with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

The YSRCP should conduct himself in the Assembly as per rules, he told the media in New Delhi on Monday. Mr. Ayyanna Ptarudu said he had suggested that Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy should attend the Assembly sessions, but to no avail.

Addressing the media along with Deputy Speaker K. Raghu Ramakrishna Raju after inviting Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to participate in the training classes being held for the MLAs on February 22 and 23, Mr. Ayyanna Patrudu said Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy was commenting on the government from the confines of his residence, instead of discharging his obligations as an MLA. 

Of the 175 MLAs elected in the 2024 polls, 84 are first- times and they needed to be given orientation on how to conduct themselves in the Assembly. They should make the most of the opportunities to highlight issues concerning the people, Mr. Ayyanna Patrudu said.  

The Speaker said he was of the view that the Assembly sessions should be held for at least 75 days a year so that there would be enough time to discuss the issues concerning people. 

“Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy and his party MLAs should know the rules and fulfill their mandate if they wish that no action should be taken against them for being continuously absent for a specified number of days,” Mr. Ayyanna Patrudu added.

Mr. Ramakrishna Raju said the MLAs continuously absent for 60 days would face disqualification under Article 190 (4) of the Constitution unless they submit written requests and the delay was condoned by the Speaker.

“Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy is apparently under the impression that he could wait till the Andhra Pradesh High Court decided the matter of conferring the Leader of the Opposition status on him. However, he is not exempted from the above rule despite the court case,” he said.