Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has approached the High Court, filing a petition against the denial of opposition leader status in the Assembly. Jagan urged the court to direct the Speaker to grant him the position of leader of the opposition. He informed the court that he had previously written to the Speaker requesting this post but had not been granted the status.
In his petition, Jagan has named the AP Speaker, Secretary, and Legislative Affairs Minister as respondents. In the recent AP elections, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) secured only 11 MLA seats. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) contends that a party must have at least one-tenth of the total seats to qualify for the main opposition leader position. Legislative Affairs Minister Payyavula Keshav and Speaker Ayyanna Patrudu have made it clear that, according to this rule, Jagan, with only 11 seats, cannot be given the status of the main opposition leader. This rule was also applied to the Congress party, which did not receive the status of the main opposition party in Parliament in the last two terms.
However, YSRCP leaders and Jagan argue that no such rule exists. They claim that, as the only party in opposition in the AP Assembly, Jagan should be given the status of the main opposition leader. Jagan has recently taken this issue to the High Court, and it remains to be seen what decision the court will take.