3 MLAs seek membership of both Telangana, Andhra Pradesh Assemblies

Hyderabad: Three elected legislators from Khammam district of Telangana are seeking dual membership in both Telangana and AP Assemblies.

This is in order to serve their constituencies divided between the two states, after Parliament approved the Bill to include the seven revenue mandals in AP.

Bhadrachalam MLA Sunnam Rajaiah (CPM), Aswaraopet MLA Thati Venkateswarlu, Pinapaka MLA Payam Venkateswarlu (both YSR Congress) on Tuesday met Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwarlal, who forwarded their representation to the Election Commission.

“I think there has been never such a case in the country where one MLA represents two states. It is up to the Election Commission to take a call on this,” Mr Bhanwarlal said.
While the MLAs were elected on May 16, the merger was passed on  May 29.   

It is increasingly becoming problematic for the people of these mandals to seek redressal of their day to day grievances. “They are coming to me, but how can I ask AP government officials to address the issue unless I become their MLA,” Sunnam Rajaiah said.

“We would not have sought dual membership in both the Houses, had all these mandals been included in the existing Assembly segments of AP Assembly which did not happen,” said Thati Venkateswarlu.