15 MLAs disqualified from AP assembly

Anti-defection law invoked as all 15 had switched loyalties to YSR Congress Party

Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker N Manohar today disqualified 15 members -- nine from Congress and six from the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) -- under the anti-defection law.

The decision comes two days before the resumption of the Assembly sessions from Monday after a prolonged period of examination of the issue by the speaker amid criticism that the delay was a deliberate ploy to avoid by-elections.

All the 15 members had switched  their loyalties to the YSR Congress Party led by Kadapa MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is in jail facing trial in a quid pro quo case, long before their violation of the whip issued by respective parties at the time of a vote on the motion of no-confidence last year.

Interestingly, three more members of the TDP, who have also been facing similar complaint, were spared from disqualification for the moment as they claimed before the Speaker that they have not received the whip issued by their party.

Political observers say the timing of the disqualification of these MLAs is going to work to the advantage of both the Congress and TDP as there will be least chances of facing by-elections in view of the general elections due to be in less than a year away from now. Also the disqualification of YSR Congress loyalists would keep the government in comfortable situation in case it has to face another round of confidence vote.

The ruling Congress strength in the Assembly stands at 146 members, two members short of the magical half way mark if the House has the full strength of 294 members. With the disqualification of 15 members along with a vacancy created by the death of a TDP member, the halfway mark required for the  government has come down to 139 as the total membership of the House will now be 278.