The biggest challenge the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) is facing is in getting the position of Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly. Though the party has submitted its nomination, the possibilities of winning this coveted position are unlikely, and the strong expectations now favor Jana Sena Party. Pulaparthi Ramanjaneyulu, the MLA from Bhimavaram of Jana Sena, is now emerging as a frontrunner because of his experience, having been an MLA for three terms.
If the YSRCP does not retract its nomination, the election for PAC membership will proceed, with voting scheduled to take place in the Assembly’s Committee Hall during the current session. The PAC will comprise nine members, and several coalition parties have already filed their nominations. However, the YSRCP’s additional nomination has led to a competitive race, prompting Assembly officials to prepare for the voting process. It remains uncertain whether YSRCP leader and former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, along with other party members, will participate in this crucial election.
Traditionally, the opposition party has held the PAC Chairmanship. In the previous Assembly, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), despite being in opposition, successfully appointed Payyavula Keshav as PAC Chairman, owing to their strong presence with 23 members. For a party to secure such a position, it typically requires around 20 MLAs. Unfortunately for the YSRCP, with only 11 MLAs, their chances of clinching the PAC Chairmanship appear slim.
The TDP has nominated several members for PAC membership, including Sriram Rajagopal (Jaggayyapet MLA), Nakka Anand Babu (Vemuru MLA), Kolli Lalitha Kumari (S. Kota MLA), B.V. Jayanageshwar Reddy (Yemmiganur MLA), Arimilli Radhakrishna (Tanuku MLA), Ashok Reddy (Giddalur MLA), and Burla Ramanjaneyulu (Pattipadu MLA). The Jana Sena has nominated Pulaparthi Ramanjaneyulu, while the BJP has put forth Vishnu Kumar Raju. Additionally, the YSRCP has nominated Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy (Punganuru MLA).
With the YSRCP lacking sufficient strength in the Assembly, candidates from the NDA coalition are expected to dominate the PAC election. Once the election process concludes, Pulaparthi Ramanjaneyulu is likely to be formally declared as the new PAC Chairman, marking a significant political shift in the Assembly.
