Jagan may attend budget session today

Vijayawada: YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has decided to attend the assembly budget session beginning on Wednesday. The former chief minister is expected to lead his party legislators to the House for the governor's address to the joint session. YSRCP legislators are expected to raise protests against the arrest of party leaders and activists, and raise the issue of Tirumala laddu ghee issue during the Governor's address. The party leadership has directed all YSRCP MLAs and MLCs to assemble at Jagan's bungalow and proceed together to the assembly.Jagan attended the assembly during the governor's address at the last budget session but boycotted the monsoon session. However, the party allowed its members in the legislative council to attend the session as it has a majority in the upper house. Jagan has demanded the leader of opposition (LoP) status to attend the assembly session after his party was confined to just 11 seats in the assembly. After speaker Ch Ayyanna Patrudu ruled out giving the LoP status to Jagan, citing rules according to which having at least 15 percent of the total strength of the House is mandatory, Jagan filed a writ petition in the high court seeking LoP status.Sources, however, said YSRCP members, including Jagan, might skip the remaining session of the assembly. Governor S Abdul Nazeer will address the joint session of the assembly and the council at 10 am, marking the commencement of the budget session, which is expected to continue till Mar 12. Finance minister P Keshav will present the annual budget for 2026-27 on Saturday.