All is fair for TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao

Hyderabad: With TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao having given his party leaders a free hand to do anything possible to ensure that the party wins a majority of the GHMC divisions, it appears every Opposition leader is fair game for poaching.

Apparently, the plan is paying off, since a few more legislators from the TD and Congress are said to be on the verge of joining the TRS within the next few days.

A key source in the TRS said that two TD MLAs and three Congress MLCs have been successfully ‘lured’, and they switching sides is just a matter of time. 

Mr Rao has even told his colleagues that if needed, the government will bring an amendment to the GHMC Act to allow a majority of the MLCs, MLAs and MPs become ex-officio members of the GHMC who will have rights to elect the mayor and deputy mayor. 

During the YSR rule, a similar amendment was brought to grab the mayor’s post, which was subsequently amended. 

Under the new plan, more and more MLCs, including those going to be elected from the local bodies constituencies, will be told to register as ex-officio members in GHMC before the election of the mayor. 

Normally, any amendment to an Act can be made either through an Ordinance or through the Legislature in the form of a Bill. 

However, due to a special provision in the AP Reorganisation Act, residuary states are empowered to adopt all laws in vogue before bifurcation of the state, and also incorporate any amendment without bringing it the Legislature.

The state government can do this on its own, and only a gazette notification will suffice. Meanwhile, Mr Rao has vowed to see that the Congress loses its main Opposition status in the Legislative Council. 

The Congress enjoy the main Opposition status and its leader recognised as the Leader of the Opposition. The post entails Cabinet minister rank with perks. 

Of the eight MLCs, D. Rajeswara Rao of Nizamabad has earlier joined the TRS and on Thursday, it was M.S. Prabhakar’s turn. 

Among the six remaining members, three are said to be in touch with the TRS and may switch over sides shortly. This will threaten the Leader of the Opposition status from the Congress.