Aruna seeks recognition as MLA from Gadwal

Hyderabad: BJP national vice-president D.K. Aruna on Friday urged Telangana Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy to recognize her as the legislator from Gadwal Assembly constituency in the 2018 elections after the High Court recently ruled her as the winner in the poll.

Aruna, accompanied by party MLA M. Raghunandan Rao, and former MLC N. Ramchander Rao, went to the state legislature to hand over a copy of the High Court’s order and a letter requesting the Speaker to recognize her as the MLA from Gadwal. However, since the Speaker was not available, and neither was the Legislature secretary, she handed over the documents to the joint secretary.

Later, she told reporters that in a democracy, the state should take the responsibility of acting on court orders. Not respecting court orders is an insult to the judiciary and the justice system, she said.

Raghunandan Rao said that if the Speaker does not take action in the next couple of days, the BJP will approach the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking a declaration that Aruna is the winner from Gadwal.

“We have emailed the HC order copy to the ECI. If no action is taken here, then we will meet ECI officials in Delhi on Monday. It is unfortunate that the Speaker is yet to implement the court orders relating to the declaration of Jalagam Venkat Rao as the winner from Kothagudem constituency,” he said.