YSRCP has lost a major election in Andhra Pradesh, winning just 11 seats, and thus also losing its opposition status in the Legislative Assembly. In retaliation, former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has gone to High Court, urging the Speaker to officially grant opposition status to the party. But even then, Jagan and his other legislators of the YSRCP have refused to attend the ongoing sessions of the Assembly.
In this background, the fire of discussion is gaining momentum with respect to the critical role of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman. The Speaker has begun the election process of the PAC and the question haunting all is whether it will be given to YSRCP as such a party hardly has 11 members in the Assembly to claim at least 18 members required for the seat of the PAC Chairman.
The process of electing the members for the PAC is on, and all nominations should reach the office by 1 pm Thursday. Elections will take place, if necessary, followed by a committee consisting of 12 members comprising 9 from the Legislative Assembly and 3 from the Legislative Council, with the Speaker expected to choose the Chairman from among the members of the Assembly.
In the previous Assembly, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) enjoyed sufficient strength to elect a member and Pyla Venkata Krishnamurthy was appointed as the PAC Chairman. According to tradition, the Speaker generally keeps this important position for an opposition member. This is just speculation given the scenario of political developments, as one begins to speculate whether YSRCP will be able to secure this position or hand it over to someone from the Jana Sena Party. Now eyes are on the Speaker’s next decision.
