Upset TD leaders want rules changed

Hyderabad: Demanding an amendment to the statute on the question of taking a decision on complaints against defection of legislators from one party to the other within a stipulated time, TS TD leaders on Tuesday accused Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao of deliberately trying to wipe out the Opposition in the state. They described this as “most undemocratic and autocratic”.

Addressing the media at TD headquarters, TS TD president L. Ramana, working president A. Revanth Reddy and MLA Arikepudu Gandhi said Chief Minister was employing unethical means to lure Opposition MLAs, the latest being Qutbullahpur MLA K.P. Vivekanand Goud into the TRS. They said government has been threatening Mr Goud with demolition of his properties alleging they were illegally built, and finally the MLA succumbed to the pressure and joined the TRS.

“Even in previous instances, TD MLAs were forced to join the TRS. Efforts are on to ensure that no Opposition exists in the Assembly,” the TD leaders said, alleging that despite petitions being filed against defection both the Governor and the Speaker failed to act in accordance with Constitutional spirit. “For the sake of one family rule, KCR is indulging and encouraging all those, which is most sad in democracy,” they said.