Hyderabad: Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar dismissed the MLA defection petitions against five legislators on Wednesday. He rejected allegations that they had defected from the BRS to the Congress.
The Speaker refused to disqualify Arikepudi Gandhi, Tellam Venkata Rao, Bandla Krishnamohan Reddy, Gudem Mahipal Reddy and Prakash Goud. He said the petitions lacked evidence to establish defection.
Further, the Speaker said the material placed before him did not justify disqualification. He clarified that, technically, the five MLAs continued to remain with the BRS.
MLA defection petitions heard amid Supreme Court deadline
Meanwhile, allegations of defection surfaced against 10 MLAs who were accused of moving from the BRS to the Congress. Petitioners submitted disqualification pleas against all of them. Earlier, the Supreme Court directed the Speaker to submit his decision in a sealed cover by December 18.
Following the court order, the Speaker expedited hearings over the past month. He completed proceedings related to eight MLAs. However, petitions against Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari remained pending.
After concluding hearings in eight cases, the Speaker pronounced the verdict on five MLAs on Wednesday. Lawyers representing the BRS and advocates appearing for the accused MLAs attended the proceedings at the Assembly.
The Speaker dismissed the MLA defection petitions, citing lack of proof. He also said he would deliver verdicts in cases involving Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Kale Yadaiah and Sanjay Kumar on Thursday.