Dasoju Sravan questions Rahul Gandhi’s silence over delay in action against defected MLAs

BRS leader Dasoju Sravan condemned the Congress Party for its perceived double standards regarding legislative defections, particularly highlighting Rahul Gandhi's silence on issues in Telangana. He alleged that the Revanth Reddy government is misusing the Speaker’s Office to delay action against defected MLAs, referencing a Supreme Court warning on inaction.

Hyderabad: Accusing the Congress Party of double standards, BRS leader and MLC Dasoju Sravan said on Tuesday that Rahul Gandhi cries foul over ‘vote theft’ in Bihar, but remains silent when ‘MLA theft’ is happening in Telangana under his own party’s rule.

Addressing a news conference at Telangana Bhavan, he alleged that the Revanth Reddy’s government was deliberately delaying action against the defected MLAs by misusing the Speaker’s Office. “What exactly does ‘reasonable time’ mean? How long does it extend? Why is the Speaker deliberately delaying action?” he questioned.

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He also referred to the remarks made by the Chief Justice of India against the Telangana Speaker. “The Supreme Court cautioned that failure to act within a week would amount to contempt of court. The Chief Justice even questioned whether the Speaker wanted to spend the New Year in jail,” Sravan noted.

Dasoju strongly criticised the Congress government in Telangana for the disrespect it had shown to the Constitution and undermining democratic institutions. Citing the example of West Bengal, he recalled that when Mukul Roy, who won on a BJP ticket, joined the Trinamool Congress, the High Court imposed a disqualification.

“The same rules should apply in Telangana as well,” he asserted, emphasising that the sanctity of the Speaker’s office must be protected.

“Speakers like Mavlankar were known to caution even Prime Ministers. Today, unfortunately, the Speaker is being pressured by the government,” he said, alleging that Revanth Reddy had won the Jubilee Hills by-election through bogus votes and was now indulging in petty politics by encouraging defection of MLAs.

He flayed the Congress for promising to strengthen the Tenth Schedule in its Lok Sabha manifesto, but promoting defections in Telangana after coming to power.

“Democratic values are being destroyed,” he said. “Defected MLAs must be disqualified without delay. Eight MLAs have gained the courage to defect only because of Revanth Reddy’s encouragement,” he added.