Boycott Strategy: Is YSRCP Isolating Itself?

YSR Congress attended the House on Day 1 of the Budget Session on Wednesday.

As soon as the Governor’s address began, all the YSRCP members raised slogans demanding the maintenance of law and order, Opposition status, and unemployment allowance.

They also demanded the immediate cancellation of the privatization of government medical colleges. As usual, after raising slogans and staging protests, the YSRCP members boycotted the Governor’s speech. There is no update on whether they will attend the House tomorrow.

It has become a regular practice for YSR Congress to attend every session on the first day and walk out after marking attendance.

They then boycott the remaining sessions, saying they have not been given Opposition status. Speaker Ayyannapatrudu has already confirmed that they cannot be given Opposition status because their seat tally of 11 falls below the required 18 seats.

Fearing disqualification, some YSR Congress leaders are reportedly signing the register secretly and leaving without attending the House.

To prevent this, the AP Assembly has introduced a facial attendance system from today. Attendance will be marked only if members are seated in the House. Earlier, there was a discussion that attendance during the Governor’s address would not be counted.

If YSR Congress members do not attend the House today, there is no chance of marking attendance, as there is no provision to do so by simply signing the register.

Article 190(4) of the Constitution of India states that a member of a state’s legislature can be disqualified if they are absent from all meetings for a period of 60 days without permission.

So, YSR Congress members seem to be moving closer to possible disqualification.

Instead of trying such tactics, YSR Congress MLAs should regularly attend the House and fight on behalf of the public.

In the process, even if the ruling government criticizes Jagan and YSR Congress, so be it. People will notice it, and if they feel the ruling government is being unreasonable, YSR Congress may gain public sympathy.

This happened with Chandrababu Naidu and TDP when YSR Congress targeted him in the House between 2019 and 2024.

But if YSR Congress leaders ignore the public and their problems while prioritizing their egos, people will also prioritize their own problems and ignore the Opposition.