Who is AP Leader of Opposition in Assembly?

The outgoing Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu, who has been one of the longest serving Chief Minister in Andhra Pradesh, has suddenly found himself at the crossroads of his 40-year political career. With the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) being routed at the Assembly as well as Lok Sabha polls, had completely thrown his plans off gear, including his hope of trying to emerge as a kingmaker at the center. Now will he grace the Opposition seat in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly is what political observers are keen to know.

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), swept to power in Andhra Pradesh with a landslide victory, bagged 151 seats in the 175-member Assembly and also won 22 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats. The TDP in a dismal performance for the first time in its history, won 24 Assembly and three Lok Sabha seats.

The leader almost narrowly missed the Leader of the Opposition (LOP) status.To get the LOP a party must secure 10% of the seats which is 18 and with 24 seats Chandrababu managed to retained the status.

Now rumours are rife in the TDP as to who would be the leader of the opposition in the AP Assembly. With the party’s humiliating defeat in the polls and many senior TDP leaders and ministers including his own son loosing in Mangalagiri, party sources say that he might entrust the post to a senior leader from the party.

Facing YS Jagan Mohan Reddy who is as old as his political experience, in the Assembly seems to have put him in a rather embarrassing situation. Party sources say that in these circumstances, he is mulling the thought of appointing another senior leader and pull out from this awkward situation.

Also Read: 5 Reasons Why AP Elected YS Jagan

It may be recollected that N Chandrababu Naidu lost the 2009 elections to the Indian National Congress party led by late Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy, which he contested with the support of K Chandrasekahar Rao . However he lost after the TDP won only 92 of 294 seats in the state assembly (erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh) and 6 of 42 in the Lok Sabha where he faced the then Chief Minister Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy as the opposition leader. So now to face his son YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in the AP assembly is said to have put him in a fix .

This time in 2019 the TDP performance was way be below the expected line especially when he won 102 seats out of 175 seats in 2014. Wrong strategy, bad tenure coupled with caste, corruption and whining against the centre for everything that was not happening in the state and making desperate attempts to stay relevant in the national politics misfired and upset the voters. It almost seemed like the Andhra people voted in angst against the party and with results out on May 23 has pushed him into oblivion or rather an ‘unemployed politician’.

Also Read: Father Chandrababu Loses State, Son Lokesh Mangalagiri

Also Read: Meet The Lone Jana Sena Ranger in AP- Rapaka Vararasad Rao