Vijayawada: Former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy urged the Speaker Ch Ayyanna Patrudu to recognize him as the Leader of Opposition and grant his party YSRCP as the Principal Opposition party in the House.

YSRCP President YS Jagan wrote a letter to AP Assembly Speaker Ayyanna Patrudu in this regard on Monday. YS Jagan in his letter said that as per custom of the Assembly, Leader of the House takes oath first followed by the Leader of the Opposition, Cabinet Ministers and then the other MLAs. Jagan pointed out that on June 21^st, he was called after the Chief Minister as well as the Cabinet Ministers were sworn in.

The above sequence gives an impression that a decision has already been taken not to grant the status of LoP to me, he said. He pointed out that the YSRCP is the only party in opposition to the TDP-JSP-BJP combine. The oath-taking clearly reveals the intent of the floor leaders of the NDA to deny YSRCLP the status of principal Opposition party and the concomitant status of LoP to its floor leader, he added.

He also has enclosed a copy of the video in which Ayyanna, before being elected as Speaker, had termed Jagan as a person defeated, but not yet dead, and had said that he should be beaten to death. He also pointing out that YSRCP secured a vote share of 40% in the recent election. Jagan said he has a duty towards the people to represent their concerns on the floor of the House.