Vijayawada: YSR Congress rebel MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy on Wednesday walked into the Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Assembly with a placard protesting over the delay in state government resolving the civic problems in his constituency.
Sridhar Reddy, who represents the Nellore Rural assembly constituency, began his march from the Fire Station near the assembly. Before he could proceed further, farmers from Amaravati garlanded the rebel MLA for supporting their cause.
Kotamreddy's placard protest attracted criticism from the treasury benches, particularly from ministers Buggana Rajendranath Reddy and Ambati Rambabu. Assembly speaker Thammineni Seetharam chastised Kotamreddy for taking the protest path rather than using the right channels to convey his grievance.
Finance minister Buggana criticised Sridhar Reddy for acting contrary to assembly rules and traditions. Minister Rambabu called the rebel MLA a betrayer, accusing him of secretly working for Telugu Desam at TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu's behest.
Speaker Thammineni subsequently suspended 12 TD MLAs as well as the rebel legislator for disrupting the house proceedings. While three members, including Sridhar Reddy, Payyavula Kesav and Nimmala Ramanaidu, have been suspended for the duration of the Assembly budget session, others got suspended for the day.
Protesting his suspension, the rebel MLA demonstrated in front of the speaker's podium. He contended how he could be suspended for raising civic issues related to his constituency.
Speaking to reporters later, Kotamreddy claimed he had made several requests to authorities, ministers and even Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for resolution of issues related to his constituency over the past four years, but in vain.
The rebel MLA stated that he will vote in the council elections from MLAs’ quota based on his conscience. He urged all YSRC legislators to do the same, instead of blindly obeying the party high command.
