Dismissal of disqualification petitions blow to Constitution: KTR

BRS working president KT Rama Rao criticised the Telangana Assembly Speaker’s decision dismissing disqualification petitions against 10 MLAs who joined Congress. He alleged the move undermines constitutional values and accused the ruling party of avoiding by-elections fearing public backlash.

Hyderabad: Calling out the Congress government’s utter disregard for the Constitution, BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Wednesday criticised the Telangana Assembly Speaker’s rulings dismissing disqualification petitions against 10 turncoat MLAs. He termed the series of dismissals a blow to the Constitution and its values.

Referring to the case of Jagtial MLA Sanjay, Rama Rao said there was clear public evidence of the legislator joining the Congress in the presence of the Chief Minister. He termed the rejection of the petition for want of proof illogical. He said the Speaker was undermining democracy without acting against the defected MLAs, ignoring Supreme Court judgements and the people’s mandate.

---

“The decision has brought dishonour to the Speaker’s Chair, even as former Congress MLA T Jeevan Reddy is opposing the presence of a turncoat MLA,” the BRS leader said, accusing the ruling Congress of attempting to avoid potential by-elections after facing public discontent in the panchayat elections.

Rama Rao stated that the State government was fearing the people’s wrath in the municipal elections. Congress Lok Sabha leader Rahul Gandhi, who had remained a mute spectator to this political drama, had no moral right to hold the Constitution in his hand, he said, warning that the Congress was resorting to political management instead of adhering to constitutional norms. It would have to pay dearly for this in the future.

“The Speaker has turned a blind eye to the clear evidence that we presented against the defected MLAs. We will approach the courts on the Speaker’s decisions dismissing the disqualification petitions,” he added.