The 2025 Andhra Pradesh State Assembly Budget Sessions ended in abject failure, delivering nothing substantial to the public. With no recognized principal opposition, the sessions became a hollow charade, sidelining critical public issues. The ruling coalition, TDP, Janasena, and BJP, tried to play both government and opposition in a clumsy “double act,” but their performance flopped miserably. Far from winning public approval, it revealed a government more interested in self-praise than solutions.
Stifled opposition and a one-sided show
The absence of a strong opposition wasn’t a fluke, it was by design. The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), the only party outside the coalition, demanded recognition as the principal opposition from day one. With just two sides in the Assembly, the ruling alliance and YSRCP, the coalition’s refusal to grant this status exposed their intent: to run the sessions unchallenged. “They want no questions, no accountability,” a YSRCP leader charged. The result? A legislative farce dominated by coalition leaders patting each other’s backs, “paraspara dabba”, while dodging public concerns.
Mud-slinging over meaningful debate
The Assembly turned into a platform for personal attacks and distortions. Coalition leaders unleashed a barrage of falsehoods against YSRCP and its chief, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, accusing the previous regime of failures they couldn’t prove. From character assassination to recycled lies, their focus was clear: drown out discussion on real issues. Topics like free sand, farmers’ distress, unemployment benefits, pension cuts, and Polavaram’s reduced height never made it to the table. Instead, TDP and Janasena members indulged in mutual flattery, leaving the public with nothing but empty rhetoric.
Coalition’s hypocrisy under fire
The coalition’s allies, notably Janasena, tried to posture as critics despite sharing power. YSRCP hit back hard: “If you want to play opposition, quit the government first.” This sharp retort, delivered during the sessions, laid bare the ruling alliance’s hypocrisy. The refusal to recognize YSRCP as the opposition wasn’t just a procedural snub, it was a calculated move to silence dissent and shield the government from scrutiny.
Council shines where assembly fails
In stark contrast, the Legislative Council (MLC) sessions were a revelation. YSRCP’s MLCs took the coalition to task, raising a litany of public grievances, free sand, farmers’ woes, mirchi cultivators’ struggles, unemployment, DSC delays, pension slashing, Polavaram setbacks, and more. Armed with facts and incisive questions, they forced the government into a corner. While Assembly broadcasts floundered with zero traction, Council sessions drew massive viewership and praise. “The difference? A real opposition,” noted a viewer from Vijayawada.
Unkept promises and budget blunders
The budget sessions exposed the coalition’s hollow promises. Their vaunted “Super Six” and “Super Seven” schemes vanished from the budget, with pledges like unemployment benefits, free bus travel, and farmer aid either scrapped or watered down. “They promised 4 lakh jobs and 6.5 lakh crore in investments, where are they?” demanded a youth leader. The government’s evasiveness, offering half-measures or outright denials, left the public fuming. From slashing pensions at 50 to abandoning medical college reforms, the coalition’s failures piled up.
Lies unraveled by facts
The coalition’s propaganda crumbled under scrutiny. Claims of 14 lakh crore in state debt were debunked by their own figures, 6.46 lakh crore as of 2023-24, per official records. YSRCP MLCs and Assembly members pinned the government down, exposing distortions on everything from power deals to medical colleges. The SECI agreement, once vilified, was quietly endorsed by CM Chandrababu Naidu on March 13. Investments and jobs under Jagan’s regime, trashed as fiction, were confirmed in Assembly replies. Even “Aadudam Andhra” and Sakshi ads, smeared as corrupt, were proven clean.
Democracy under siege
Perhaps the sessions’ darkest stain was the coalition’s assault on press freedom. Without notice or inquiry, media outlets like Sakshi were barred from coverage, a blatant attack on democratic norms. “They’ve buried transparency,” a journalist lamented. This move, alongside the opposition snub, painted a grim picture of a government allergic to accountability.
Public verdict rings loud
The people’s response was unmistakable. Assembly sessions tanked in viewership, while Council debates soared, driven by YSRCP’s fight for their issues. From flood victims’ neglect to rising crimes against women, belt shops, and power tariff hikes, the Council became the public’s voice. “If the Assembly had an opposition like this, we’d see results,” said a farmer from Kurnool. The consensus? YSRCP’s recognition as the principal opposition is non-negotiable for meaningful governance.
Coalition caught in Its own trap
The 2025 Assembly sessions laid bare a coalition more adept at spin than substance. Their refusal to face YSRCP as the opposition backfired, turning the Assembly into a laughingstock while the Council stole the show. For Andhra Pradesh, the lesson is clear: without a robust opposition, democracy is just a “dabba”, a noisy, empty shell.
