SPEAKER'S UN RULING

Balancing act by Speaker kicks up a row
Assembly Speaker KR Suresh Reddy on Monday delivering his balanced verdict accepted the resignations of six TRS rebel MLAs and disqualified three rebel MLAs under 2(1)(a) of the 10th Schedule of Anti-Defection Act, 1986. A petition seeking disqualification of the nine MLAs, voting against the party whip in the AP Legislature Council election, had been pending with the Speaker for almost two years.
Speaking to media persons, Speaker, Suresh Reddy said there was no specific rule that he should not accept resignations submitted by the legislators even when a disqualification petition was pending. He added that that he did a balancing act in giving the verdict in accordance with the Constitutional spirit. He should not be blamed for delay in giving judgment on the petitions as 22 sittings were held and reasonable opportunity was given to everyone to put forth their case.
The verdict of the Speaker would not have any impact on the six MLAs S Santosh Reddy, B Sararani, G Mukunda Reddy, K Lingaiah, D Srinivasa Rao and Narayana Rao Patel as their resignations were already accepted. The three who faced disqualifications are M Satyanarayana Reddy, T Jayaprakash Reddy and S Babu Rao. The Speaker felt the need of a Constitutional amendment to ensure that action under Anti-Defection Law applied even to those who tendered resignations prior to the judgment.