Deputy speaker of Andhra Pradesh assembly K Raghu Ramakrishna Raju on Monday warned that there is a possibility of holding by-election to Pulivendula assembly seat in Kadapa district, if YSR Congress party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who represents the seat doesn’t attend the assembly.
Speaking to reporters, Raju urged the former chief minister to attend the assembly and express his opinions on any issue, if he doesn’t want to get disqualified that might lead to by-elections to Pulivendula seat.
The deputy speaker said it was Jagan Mohan Reddy’s responsibility as an MLA to raise public issues in the assembly.
He also emphasized that the status of the opposition is not granted by the speaker or the chief minister but by the people themselves.
“If any MLA is absent from the assembly for 60 days without taking leave from the speaker, he or she could face disqualification. So, if Jagan Mohan Reddy does not attend Assembly sessions for 60 days, his disqualification could lead to a by-election in Pulivendula,” Raju said.
In the 2024 Andhra Pradesh assembly elections, the YSRCP suffered a significant defeat, securing only 11 seats out of 175. The TDP-led alliance won 164 seats, denying the YSRCP the status of the main opposition party.
Jagan Mohan Reddy has been demanding that he be given the leader of the opposition status in the assembly, but as the party secured less than 10% of the seats, the ruling coalition has rejected this request. As a result, he has been staying away from assembly proceedings.
Regarding his custodial torture case, Raju expressed confidence in getting justice.
He alleged that Sunil Kumar was involved in his custodial torture and believed that the culprits would be punished. He also assured that he would continue his fight for justice.
