In a major political development, Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar has dismissed the disqualification petitions filed against five Bharat Rashtra Samiti MLAs.
The Speaker, who delivered his verdict on the petitions of five BRS MLAs Arekapudi Gandhi, Tellam Venkat Rao, Gudem Mahipal Reddy, T. Prakash Goud and Bandla Krishnamohan Reddy, said there was no truth in the claim that these MLAs shifted their allegiance to the ruling Congress. In the much awaited verdict on the disqualification petitions moved by the BRS leadership, the Speaker said that the petitioners did not submit necessary proofs to substantiate their charge that the MLAs switched sides.
In his report compiled after hearing the arguments of the advocates on behalf of the petitioners and respondent MLAs, Mr. Prasad Kumar, chairing the tribunal constituted under Tenth Schedule of the Constitution dealing with the Anti Defection Law, said the MLAs technically continued to be with the BRS as the petitioners could not prove their arguments.
Faced with the deadline set by the Supreme Court to complete proceedings into the disqualification petitions moved by the BRS against 10 of its MLAs, the Speaker heard arguments in support of and against the disqualification of the MLAs for close to three months.
