Demanding the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker to restore all the portraits removed from the Assembly hall, YSR Congress has said such a move would set a bad precedence as it is laden with political vindictiveness.

“The decision purportedly taken by the General Purposes Committee, which has ill-proportionate representation, is not in good taste as the decision to put up the portrait was taken by the then Speaker and it is the bounden duty of the present incumbent to honor the decision of his predecessors,” Party leader P Subashchadra Bose told reporters on Wednesday.

Removing the portrait of Damodaram Sanjeeviah, the first Dalit Chief Minister of South India, Potti Sriramulu and Tanguturi Prakasam Panthulu will not go well with the people who respect them and removing the YSR portrait will hurt the sentiments of many people of the State.

“The decision was taken by the earlier Speaker, who said that YSR photo was unveiled in the Assembly as he was the first chief minister who died while in office. If the decision is not honoured it will be belittling the office of the Speaker. And will remain a bad precedent. The photo of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu can be seen in the office of the Secretary of the Assembly and there would be no reply if we ask as to who has authorized it.

We demand that the decision of the General Purposes Committee be revoked and all the photos be restored in the Assembly hall,” he said.