AP Speaker Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu announced in the assembly on Wednesday that he would wait until the legal process is over in view of the YSRCP leaders going to the High Court for opposition status. He recalled that YS Jaganmohan Reddy had gone to the High Court on opposition status issue and had filed a petition in the court seeking an order to declare him as the opposition leader.
He reminded that the Speaker and the Legislative Affairs Minister were included as respondents in this. However, the Speaker deplored that there were also reports that the High Court had issued a summons to the Speaker. He said that it has not yet been determined whether Jagan’s petition is worthy of hearing. Then, how can the court issue summons?, he asked.
”Jagan wrote a letter to me on 24-06-2024. It contains accusations, insinuations and threats. This letter seeks opposition status. A few days after writing this letter, Jagan approached the AP High Court. A writ petition was filed to order the Secretary of the Legislative Assembly and the Secretary of the Speaker. It is at the stage of deciding whether to take the writ petition or not”, he said.
“In this, the Speaker and the Minister of Legislative Affairs were mentioned in the petition, bringing the parties together. We thought we would see what happens on this petition. However, they are spreading the news that the Honorable High Court has issued summons to the Speaker. Jagan mentioned fabricated things in it. I am giving a ruling on the nonsense and gibberish being made by Jaganmohan Reddy while showing the honorable court,” he added.
Detailing the facts, the Speaker said that the oath-taking ceremony was held after the former Chief Minister as a legislator. In the oath-taking ceremony held on 11-1-1995, the former Chief Minister was sworn in after the ministers. The oath-taking ceremony of the members of the 16th AP Legislative Assembly was held on 21-06-2024. The Speaker’s election was held the next day.
“The claim that he refused to be the Leader of the Opposition is incorrect. Our secretariat was not informed that Jaganmohan Reddy was elected as the Leader of the YSRCP Legislative Assembly until 26-06-2024. In that case, is it possible to take a decision on the status of the Leader of the Opposition before the Speaker’s election is held before June 26?”, he asked.
Ayyanna Patrudu made it clear that only the Constitution and court judgments can determine whether someone is eligible to be the Leader of the Opposition or not.
