KTR flays Speaker’s verdict on defector MLAs, terms it undemocratic, shocking

HYDERABAD

Working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) K.T. Rama Rao has strongly condemned the Telangana Assembly Speaker’s decision on the disqualification petitions against MLAs defected from BRS to the ruling Congress, calling it highly undemocratic and shocking.

Reacting to the Speaker’s ruling on disqualification petitions against Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari on Wednesday, he alleged that the decision was taken under tremendous pressure from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and accused the Congress leadership of orchestrating the entire episode.

He observed that the Speaker had virtually no independence in the matter and that the Congress party itself was directly managing the defection operations in the State. The Speaker’s decision represented a direct assault on democracy and the Constitution of India – and the principal architect behind this unethical move was Rahul Gandhi, he alleged.

Mr. Rama Rao alleged that Mr. Rahul Gandhi was encouraging such unethical political activities for the sake of massive money flows reaching AICC from Telangana and described the developments as part of a politically motivated operation. He questioned the moral authority of Mr. Gandhi and the Congress party to speak about defections.

Criticising Mr. Gandhi’s political stance, the BRS leader said the Congress leader claiming to be the defender of the Constitution while encouraging defections simultaneously is unfortunate. He asked the Congress party to justify how an MLA (Danam Nagender) who had won on a BRS B-Form could contest as a Congress candidate for Lok Sabha without resigning from BRS – or the Assembly – and escape disqualification.

He remarked that in the history of independent India, rarely had a Speaker delivered such a controversial decision. He said the BRS would be ready to felicitate those responsible for such a “historic” decision.

“All the evidence is already in the public domain. The Election Commission records clearly show which B-Form the MLA used to contest the Assembly election and which B-Form he used to contest for Parliament. What further inquiry is needed?” he asked.

Mr. Rama Rao also faulted Mr. Gandhi for talking about automatic disqualification if someone defects (a promise made in the Congress manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections).