Speaker dismisses disqualification petitions against five BRS MLAs

In a major political development, Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar has dismissed the disqualification petitions filed against five Bharat Rashtra Samiti MLAs.

The Speaker, who delivered his verdict on the petitions of five BRS MLAs Arekapudi Gandhi, Tellam Venkat Rao, Gudem Mahipal Reddy, T. Prakash Goud and Bandla Krishnamohan Reddy, said there was no truth in the claim that these MLAs shifted their allegiance to the ruling Congress. In the much awaited verdict on the disqualification petitions moved by the BRS leadership, the Speaker said that the petitioners did not submit necessary proofs to substantiate their charge that the MLAs switched sides.

In his report compiled after hearing the arguments of the advocates on behalf of the petitioners and respondent MLAs, Mr. Prasad Kumar, chairing the tribunal constituted under Tenth Schedule of the Constitution dealing with the Anti Defection Law, said the MLAs technically continued to be with the BRS as the petitioners could not prove their arguments.

Faced with the deadline set by the Supreme Court to complete proceedings into the disqualification petitions moved by the BRS against 10 of its MLAs, the Speaker heard arguments in support of and against the disqualification of the MLAs for close to three months.

While the advocates from the BRS side submitted proofs alleging that the MLAs indeed switched loyalties going by the proofs of their close movement with the powers that be in the ruling party, advocates on behalf of the respondent MLAs asserted that they continued in the BRS and that they met Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and other Ministers seeking release of funds and execution of other development works pertaining to their respective constituencies.

Advocates on behalf of Mr. Gandhi argued that their client continued to be the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, a post traditionally given to the principal Opposition party, and that there was no truth in the claim that he had shifted loyalty to the Congress. The MLAs facing charges of defection claimed that they continued to sit in the seats allotted to them on the basis of the party they represented and that there was no fact in the petitioners’ charges.

The Speaker dismissed the petitions claiming that they were not maintainable and that the MLAs continue to be affiliated to the BRS. The Tribunal is likely to announce its stand pertaining to three more legislators Kale Yadaiah, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and M. Sanjay Kumar in a day or two and it has to be waited and seen whether the tribunal adopts the same yardstick for these legislators.

Interestingly, two more MLAs Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari did not attend the hearings despite receiving notices more than once. The two MLAs requested the Speaker to grant them some more time to submit their responses to the notices.