TDP seeks disqualification of three Telangana legislators

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has sought disqualification of its three members of Telangana assembly for defecting to ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

The party Monday submitted a petition to assembly Speaker S. Madhusudana Chary, urging him to disqualify T. Srinivasa Yadav, T. Krishna Reddy and C. Dharma Reddy, who recently joined TRS.

The TDP sought action against the legislators under Anti-Defection Act.

The law disqualifies legislators switching sides when their number is less than one-third of the total strength of their respective party.

This is the latest in a series of petitions moved for disqualification of TDP, Congress and YSR Congress legislators crossing over to TRS.

Many members of assembly and council belonging to the opposition parties defected to TRS since it formed the government in June.

The parties have already submitted petitions to presiding officers of assembly and council.

In June, nine members of council and two members of assembly from the opposition parties crossed over to the TRS. Two Congress legislators joined TRS in September and two more crossed over to the ruling party this month.

The opposition parties alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekar Rao was encouraging defections.

The issue had rocked the assembly last week with the Congress members stalling the proceedings.

Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh Sunday alleged that the Chandrasekhar Rao, who is also TRS president, is encouraging defections. He said he would approach the court in this regard.