BJP, BRS slam Speaker's 'anti-democratic' move on defected MLAs

BJP, BRS Slam Speaker's Decision

Telangana BJP President N Ramchander Rao on Thursday slammed the state's Assembly speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar for dismissing disqualification petitions against five defected BRS MLAs, calling his decision "unconstitutional" and "anti-democratic." "The Speaker's decision is unconstitutional and anti-democratic. The MLAs of BRS had joined the Congress. Is the speaker's decision influenced by the ruling party?" he said.

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Earlier on Thursday, BRS leader Krishank also criticised Gaddam Prasad Kumar, saying that this is the "murder of the constitution" and a "mockery of democracy." "In Telangana, where Congress is in power, it's absolutely a murder of the Constitution and a mockery of democracy. Today the speaker says that he has no evidence against the defected MLAs. It is really a joke," he said.

'Shameful' Hypocrisy of Congress

He slammed the Congress party, stating that it is a matter of shame the way Congress preaches across the nation but fails to practice when in power. "It is really shameful that the Congress party, which preaches across India, does not practice when it is in power. Tomorrow it will really be a test for the speaker because one particular defected MLA has contested in the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 as the Congress Party candidate," he added.

Speaker Dismisses Petitions Citing Merits

Meanwhile, Kumar, who is acting as the Chairman of the Tribunal under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, dismissed disqualification petitions filed against five Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) after examining their merits.

The petitions included cases filed by MLA KP Vivekanand against MLA Tellam Venkata Rao; MLA Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, and another against MLA Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy; MLA Kalvakuntla Sanjay against MLA T. Prakash Goud; MLA Chinta Prabhakar against MLA Gudem Mahipal Reddy; and another petition by MLA Kalvakuntla Sanjay against MLA Arekapudi Gandhi.

According to a press note, the Speaker, after examining the petitions, considering the material placed on record, and strictly adhering to the principles of natural justice by granting adequate opportunity to hear all concerned parties, pronounced his decision on five petitions. "After considering the merits of the above petitions, the Honourable Speaker and the Chairman, Tribunal, hereby dismissed them," the press note said. (ANI)