Defecting MLAs buy time

Hyderabad: Legislators from various parties, who shifted loyalties to the TRS in Telangana state, are buying time over disqualification notices.

While some sought six-month time, Assembly Speaker Madhusudhana Chary rejected the MLAs’ plea and agreed to give two-month time. Legislative Council chairman K. Swamy Goud too is dealing with over half dozen petitions against MLCs who jumped to TRS, mostly from the Congress.

While disqualification petitions of three MLAs and half a dozen MLCs are yet to be disposed off, three Telugu Desam legislators have joined the TRS bandwagon! It is nearly one-and-half months since notices were served but the legislators have not replied to them.

Defected legislators are from the Congress, the TD and the BSP. The Congress and YSRC have asked the Speaker to take action against the defecting legislators under the anti-defection law.

Disqualification petitions are pending against two Congress MLAs G. Vithal Reddy (Mudhole) and Koram Kanakaiah (Yellandu) and YSRC MLA B. Madanlal (Wyra). Over half the Congress MLCs have coolly crossed over to the TRS.

“We have sent notices under the anti-defection law as per the petitions of the political parties to MLAs who crossed over to the other party. We have not received a reply yet. Some have sought six-month time, but the Speaker gave two months. Notices have been sent under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution,” said Raja Sadaram, legislature secretary.

Congress Legislature Party leader K. Jana Reddy, YSRC floor leader Thati Venkateswarulu sought disqualification of their MLAs who crossed over to the TRS.

While these cases are still pending, three Telugu Desam MLAs Teegala Krishna Reddy (Maheswaram), Dharma Reddy (Parkal), T. Srinivas Yadav (Sanathnagar) and V. Gangadhar Goud (MLC) joined the TRS.

In the 119-member Assembly, the TD lost three MLAs, BSP two MLAs A. Indr-akaran Reddy (Nirmal) and Koneru Konappa (Sirpur). The series of defections to the ruling TRS ever since it came to power in Telangana increased its original strength in the Assembly from 63 to 70 at present.

An elected member of a House who has been elected as such otherwise than as a candidate set up by any political party shall be disqualified for being a member of the House if he joins any political party after such election.

A nominated member of a House shall be disqualified for being a member of the House if he joins any political party after the expiry of six months from the date on which he takes his seat after complying with the requirements of article 99 or, as the case may be, article 188.