PCC accuses KCR of 'engineering' defection of 2 MLAs

Days ahead of the Legislative Council elections in the state, Congress in Telangana announced that it would wage a full-scale constitutional battle against chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. Reportedly, the party would stage a 'dharna' in Asifabad and Pinapaka constituencies on March 5 to protest against Rao. Meanwhile, Congress leaders, MLAs and MLCs staged a dharna before the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Assembly premises on Sunday to protest against what they alleged was the chief minister's latest drive to make opposition MLAs defect to TRS.

Hyderabad:The Congress in Telanganaannounced that it would wage a full scale constitutionalbattle against chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, accusinghim of 'engineering' the defection of two party MLAs, on Sunday.

The announcement comes days ahead of the LegislativeCouncil elections in the state.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Nuttam Kumar Reddy said that the party would stage a 'dharna' in Asifabad and Pinapaka constituencies on March 5 to protestagainst Rao's alleged action.

He also said that a complaint would be lodged with theElection Commission on the issue, seeking immediatedisqualification of the two MLAs, Rega Kantha Rao (Pinapaka) and Atram Sakku (Asifabad).

Further, he said that both the MLAs should not be allowed tovote in the MLC elections to be held on March 12.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders, MLAs and MLCs staged a dharnabefore the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Assembly premises onSunday to protest against what they alleged was the chief minister's latest drive to make opposition MLAs defect to TRS.

In a party release, Reddy charged KCR with turningTelangana into a symbol of "oppression and injustice".

"It was unconstitutional and unethical for TRS to fieldthe fifth candidate in MLC elections without having therequired numerical strength," he claimed.

He demanded that both Congress MLAs be disqualifiedimmediately and deprived of voting rights in the MLC polls.

By making two Congress MLAs defect to the ruling party,KCR has resorted to "cheap politics" and "smothered" democracyagain, the release quoted by Uttam Kumar Reddy stated.

Accusing KCR of "murdering democracy" in Telangana,Congress leader Bhatti Vikramarka said that the Congress wouldexpose the "unconstitutional and undemocratic" practices ofKCR across Telangana.

The two Congress MLAs had on Saturday said that they had decidedto join TRS in the interest of development and welfare of STs.

They said that they would consult legal experts and quit theassembly membership and seek a fresh mandate if necessary.

A TDP MLA from Sattupalli Sandra Venkata Veeraiah on Sundaysaid that he had decided to join the TRS in the interest ofdevelopment of his constituency.

Veeraiah met Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday and urged himto release irrigation water to save crops in his nativeKhammam district which was accepted.

The strength of the Congress in the 119-member Assembly is 19 and it would come down to 17 with the decision of thetwo MLAs to join the TRS.

The TDP has two MLAs and would be left with only onelegislator following Veeraiah's decision to leave the party.

The Congress was banking on the support of the two MLAsfrom its grand alliance partner, TDP in the polls for MLCs tobe elected under the MLA's quota.

However, its chances have now been dented with thedecision of the three MLAs to join the TRS.

The Congress has fielded a candidate in the election(MLAs quota) to be held to fill five vacancies in the council.

The TRS has nominated four candidates, leaving one seatto its ally AIMIM.

The TRS' strength is 88, with two other MLAs alsosupporting the party. AIMIM has seven MLAs.

Another TDP MLA M Nageshwar Rao representing Aswaraopetasegment dismissed rumours that he would join the TRS in thewake of Veeraiah's announcement that he would join the rulingparty.

With inputs from PTI.