AP Assembly Debate: Day I belongs to Jagan

Day 1 of the debate on the motion to thank the Governor for his address to the joint session of legislature in Andhra Pradesh belonged entirely to leader of Opposition YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The young leader, in the assessment of several analysts, has clearly stolen the thunder from the ruling TDP. 

Jagan's two-hour-long speech was strong on facts, sound in argument,  was peppered with determined attack. (Highlights of YS Jagan's maiden speech in Assembly)

The ruling party appeared to have been clearly taken aback at Jagan's level of preparation and exposition of ideas. A shocked ruling party tried to obstruct him and draw him into unseemly debates. But, Jagan was both unyielding and unwavering. His narrative remained true to script. So impactful was his speech that several TV channels, known for being inimical to Jagan, had broadcast the speech in full and uninterrupted by adverts. 

Jagan began with analysing the reasons for YSRCP's defeat and was at his candid best when he said that complacense and smugness had done the party in.  (TDP should govern, not rake muck!)

But, he quickly focused on rebutting the insinuations against late YSR. He quoted statistics that the TDP word wizards found hard to refute. Then he zeroed in on the double-tongued approach of political parties on the issue of AP's division. He then reminded the TDP of its election-eve promises and wanted it to implement the crop loan waiver. He was at his sarcastic best when he said that the advent of Chandrababu had meant only loss of jobs in AP and buttressed his arguments with sound facts. 

Several TDP legislators had to grudgingly admit that Jagan had proved more than a match for them. Several old-timers drew parallels with 1999 when in a similar way, late YSR deconstructed the myths built around Chandrababu. A scribe with vast experience of covering the proceedings of the Assembly said Jagan had taken everyone by surprise with his home work and did not appear like a first-timer trying to find his feet. He literally swept the ruling party off its feet.

-Raka@Sakshipost