Disqualification of 18 MLAs : Speaker in no hurry, wants to avoid by-polls

Seven MLAs call on speaker, submit letters of explanation

Hyderabad : Speaker Nadendla Manohar is likely to take a final decision in regard to the disqualification of the 18 MLAs who had violated the whip issued by the Congress party and the Telugu Desam party by May 20, ahead of the second phase of the Budget Session.

These MLAs had voted in favour of the no-confidence motion on March 16. In all, 15 of them joined YSR Congress party while three MLAs K Harishwar Reddy, S Venugopalachari and Sairaj supported the no confidence motion moved by TRS. Following this, the Congress and the TDP gave letters to the Speaker seeking their disqualification.A The defiant MLAs from Congress and TDP met N Manohar on Thursday and handed over letters of explanation in response to the notices that were served to them on March 30.

The rebel MLAs were given two weeks time to reply to the notices. Those who met the Speaker today were Perni Nani, Maddala Rajesh, Jogi Ramesh, Bochepalli Sivaprasad Reddy, Dwarampudi Chandrasekhar Reddy, (all Congress) and T Vanita and Kodali Nani TDP. All of them have joined the YSRCP.

Later talking to media, Perni Nani and Kodali Nani said they were ready to face the by-elections. They demanded that the Speaker should take immediate decision and disqualify them. "They said it is on record we have violated the whip. No further proof is required. We have been demanding that the Speaker disqualify us immediately so that we can go to the people and the Congress can be exposed."

They said they hear that the Speaker would take a decision around May 20. The logic here is that in such a case the Congress party can avoid a by election. This shows how scared they are of facing elections. The TDP and the Congress have become a curse to the people of the State. The Congress government has ignored the promises made in 2009 manifesto. The welfare schemes introduced by late YSR have been stalled. They said even if the Congress and TDP come together, they will not be able to defeat YSRCP.

Two other MLAs from TDP Y Balanagi Reddy and Chinna Ramakotaiah met the Legislature Secretary S Rajasadaram and handed over their letters two days back. Balanagi Reddy said that technically the disqualification petition against him was not valid since he did not receive the whip and that he was not present in the house. Kodali Nani also claimed that he also did not get the whip.

Meanwhile, Congress chief whip G Venkataramana Reddy exuded confidence that the rebel MLAs will not enter the Assembly when the house meets for the second phase of the budget session.