YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and his MLAs did not attend the Assembly after taking their oaths. Jagan announced he would stay away until he is given the Opposition Leader Status.
According to the rules, a party needs at least 10% of seats for the Opposition Leader Status. YSR Congress should have 18 seats but has only 11. Despite this, Jagan is pushing for the status and is preventing his MLAs from attending the house.
Some MLAs want to attend to avoid disqualification, but Jagan's instructions are keeping them away. Except for him, all MLAs, including his close aide Peddireddy Rama Chandra Reddy, are drawing salaries. Some are even signing the attendance register in the lobby without entering the house.
This raises the question: why is Chandrababu Naidu not trying to attract these MLAs to attend the Assembly? Such a move could embarrass the YSR Congress. It seems Naidu prefers to avoid the practice of taking MLAs without formally admitting them, similar to what Jagan did in the previous government.
Political circles are now speculating that Araku MLA Matsyalingam may be interested in joining the TDP. Earlier, he denied such rumours, calling them internal sabotage. This time, however, there has been no denial. Matsyalingam has also been inactive in party events and protests.
The situation remains uncertain, and the political dynamics could change depending on how Chandrababu Naidu decides to act.