On 25 January, the Speaker issued notices, asking the eight MLAs to provide an explanation for why they should not be disqualified.
Published Feb 27, 2024 | 11:00 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 27, 2024 | 11:00 AM
Assembly Speaker Tammineni Sitaram. (Screengrab)
The Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Tammineni Sitaram disqualified eight MLAs who shifted their loyalties to other parties on Monday, 26 February.
This action included the disqualification of four rebel MLAs each from the ruling YSRCP and Opposition TDP.
Mudunuru Prasad Raju, the YSRCP chief whip, lodged a complaint against Venkatgiri MLA Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Tadikonda MLA Undavalli Sridevi, Nellore Rural MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy, and Udayagiri MLA Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy for shifting their loyalties to the TDP.
The YSRCP had previously suspended these four MLAs for allegedly voting in favour of a TDP MLC contestant from the Assembly quota in 2023.
Similarly, Dola Bala Veeranjaneyaswamy, the TDP whip, lodged a complaint against his MLAs Guntur West Maddali Giri, Chirala MLA Karanam Balaram, Gannavaram MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi, and Vizag West MLA Vasupalli Ganesh for shifting their loyalties to the YSRCP.
#AndhraPradesh Assembly Speaker Tammineni Sitaram has disqualified four rebel MLAs each from @YSRCParty and @JaiTDP based on complaints from their respective party whips.
From #YSRCP: Venkatgiri MLA Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Tadikonda MLA Undavalli Sridevi, Nellore Rural MLA…
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) February 27, 2024
On 25 January, the Speaker issued notices, asking the eight MLAs to provide an explanation for why they should not be disqualified.
They appeared before the Speaker for the first time on 5 February, but have been avoiding the inquiry since then, sending letters to the Speaker’s office seeking more time.
The YSRCP rebel MLAs even appealed to the high court challenging the proceedings issued by the Speaker for their disqualification.
However, the high court declined to give interim orders and posted the matter for further hearing. Finally, after legal consultation, the Speaker issued the disqualification notices.
Meanwhile, the Speaker recently accepted the resignation of TDP MLA and former minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, who resigned from his post in February 2021.
Ganta Srinivas Rao alleges that his resignation was accepted in light of the Rajya Sabha elections, where he may vote for the TDP candidate.
