AP Speaker warns of action over YSRCP MLAs’ absence from Assembly Budget Session

Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker Chintakayala Ayyannapatrudu on Thursday strongly criticized the continued absence of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MLAs from the ongoing budget session of the Assembly, calling it an affront to democratic responsibility.

Addressing the House, the Speaker said elected representatives are chosen by the people to raise public issues in the legislature, and avoiding the Assembly amounts to mocking the very spirit of democracy. “People elect their representatives with the expectation that they will voice public concerns in the Assembly. Staying away from the House after winning elections is irresponsible,” he said.

Ayyannapatrudu also questioned the ethics of drawing salaries and allowances while not attending the Assembly proceedings. He noted that YSRCP MLAs are receiving their salaries, while the party’s chief Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has reportedly chosen not to draw his salary.

The Speaker clarified that briefly attending the House only on the day of the Governor’s address and staging protests cannot be considered meaningful participation in legislative proceedings. He warned that under constitutional provisions, members who remain absent from the House for 65 consecutive days without permission may face strict action, including the issuance of formal notices.

Expressing concern over the accountability of public representatives, Ayyannapatrudu said there is a need to consider legal reforms that would allow voters to recall elected representatives who fail to discharge their responsibilities. He noted that the issue is not limited to Andhra Pradesh and affects legislatures across the country.

To strengthen transparency in legislative attendance, the Speaker said the Assembly has installed AI-based facial recognition cameras at each MLA’s seat, enabling accurate recording of members’ presence and the duration of their participation in the House.

He also reiterated that according to legislative norms, a party must have at least 10 percent of the total seats in the Assembly to qualify for the status of the official opposition. Since the YSRCP currently holds only 11 seats, the Speaker said it does not meet the threshold required to be recognized as the opposition party in the Assembly.