AP Budget Session: YSRCP Walks Out Amid Governor's Address Over LoP Status

The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly's Budget Session for the financial year 2026-27 officially began on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, with Governor S. Abdul Nazeer addressing a joint sitting of the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. However, the customary opening was marked by significant political drama as the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) staged a walkout during the Governor's speech. Led by former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, YSRCP legislators initiated loud protests and slogan-shouting against the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led NDA government. They accused the government of running a "kingdom of thieves" and demanded that their party be recognized as the principal opposition in the Assembly. The YSRCP has been consistently arguing for Leader of Opposition (LoP) status, a demand that has been denied by the Speaker due to their reduced strength of 11 seats in the 175-member Assembly, which falls short of the required 18 seats for LoP recognition. Beyond the LoP status, the protesting MLAs also voiced demands for the implementation of the party's previously promised "Super Six" guarantees, unemployment allowance, and a rollback of medical college privatization. The walkout, which saw YSRCP members leave the House within approximately 11 minutes of the Governor commencing his address, was a strong political statement at the very outset of the crucial budget session. This swift exit by the opposition members sparked discussions, with many questioning the purpose of their brief attendance. Notably, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy's presence in the Assembly for this session garnered particular attention, as he was attending after a considerable gap of nearly a year, his last appearance being on February 24, 2025. His attendance this time is understood to be partly influenced by advice from constitutional experts, given statements by the Deputy Speaker regarding potential disqualification for prolonged absence under Article 190(4) of the Constitution. Following the walkout, Assembly Speaker Ayyannapatrudu made a sarcastic remark, pointing out that on the 11th, 11 YSRCP MLAs remained in the Assembly for only 11 minutes. Adding another layer to the legislative proceedings, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly has introduced a new digital attendance system based on facial recognition technology. This system now requires MLAs to be physically present inside the House for their attendance to be recorded, moving away from the earlier practice of signing a register. This new rule adds an interesting dimension to the brief appearance of the opposition MLAs and underscores a move towards greater transparency and accountability in legislative attendance. In his address, Governor S. Abdul Nazeer outlined the coalition government's vision for the state's development, emphasizing a commitment to people-centric welfare and long-term economic goals. He highlighted the 'Swarna Andhra 2047' vision, which aims to transform Andhra Pradesh into a Rs 308 lakh crore (USD 3.4 trillion) economy with a per capita income of Rs 55 lakh by 2047. The Governor also spoke about the government's initiatives to revive key sectors like infrastructure, power, and irrigation, and its focus on welfare schemes like the "Super Six" guarantees and "Sthree Shakti" free bus travel scheme. He further commented on the challenges faced by the state after bifurcation and criticized the previous government for alleged systemic governance failures and financial strain. The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) has finalized the schedule for the session, which is expected to run until March 7, with the State Budget for 2026-27 to be presented by Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav on February 14. The session is anticipated to involve extensive discussions on financial priorities, policy matters, and the passage of several key bills, amidst continued political debates and potential clashes between the ruling and opposition parties.

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