BRS disqualification petitions: Telangana Speaker holds hearing against turncoat MLAs

The Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar conducted extended hearings on disqualification petitions filed by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) against several defected MLAs. Over three hours of cross-examination took place, with most legislators already questioned.

Hyderabad: Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar on Saturday conducted a hearing on the disqualification petitions filed by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) against turncoat MLAs, including Bhadrachalam MLA T Venkat Rao and Jagtial MLA Dr Sanjay.

The hearing was conducted for over three hours in the Speaker’s Office on the Assembly premises. Advocates representing BRS MLA KP Vivekanand cross-examined Venkat Rao, while those representing MLA G Jagadish Reddy cross-examined Dr Sanjay.

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The Speaker’s Office had already quizzed Rajendranagar MLA T Prakash Goud and Chevella MLA Kale Yadaiah on October 1.

Similarly, Patancheru MLA Gudem Mahipal Reddy and Jogulamba Gadwal MLA Bandla Krishnamohan Reddy were questioned on October 4. Serilingampally MLA Arekapudi Gandhi and Banswada MLA Pocharam Srinivas Reddy were grilled on Friday.

Among the 10 BRS turncoat MLAs, eight legislators have responded to the Speaker’s notice. Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender and Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari had sought time to respond to the notices.

After hearing the petition filed by BRS on July 31, the Supreme Court wanted the Speaker to act on the disqualification of MLAs within three months. The deadline expired on October 31.

However, the Speaker had appealed for a two-month extension on the disqualification cases hearing.

It may be recalled that the Calcutta High Court had disqualified senior BJP MLA Mukul Roy after defecting to the Trinamool Congress under the anti-defection law.