Hyderabad, July 27 - The Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly Monday witnessed stormy scenes as Chief Minister Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy challenged Leader of Opposition N.Chandrababu Naidu to a referendum to decide who enjoys more credibility among people.

Accepting the challenge, Naidu, the Telugu Desam Party chief, dared the chief minister to hold a referendum on credibility, governance, corruption and political murders.

YSR, as the chief minister is popularly known by his initials, accepted Naidu's conditions. While the war of words and the challenges thrown by both the leaders generated a lot of heat in the house, other parties intervened to oppose the idea of referendum.

It all started during the debate on the state budget when Congress party whip Shailajanath remarked that Naidu would lose his deposit if he faces YSR in a direct election.

Reacting immediately to this remark, TDP legislators rose from their seats and said their leader was ready to fight to prove who is the best chief minister.

Amid the uproar, YSR intervened to throw a challenge at Naidu to face a referendum on their credibility. 'Let us hold a referendum on my credibility versus Mr Naidu's credibility. The one who loses should retire from politics,' said YSR.

Naidu was chief minister from 1995 to 2004 while YSR took over after the Congress' victory in the 2004 polls to the state assembly and retained power in the 2009 elections.

Naidu was quick to accept the challenge. 'I am ready to accept this challenge but the referendum should be held on credibility, corruption, governance and political murders,' he said.

While YSR had made credibility the main issue in the recent elections, Naidu often targets him for 'rampant corruption, misgovernance and murders of political rivals' during the Congress' rule.