Cong leader Rajagopal withdraws plea in HC

Seemandhra Congress leader and MP Lagadapati Rajagopal today withdrew his plea before the Delhi High Court in which he had sought a direction to the Lok Sabha Speaker to take a decision on his resignation which was submitted on August 2.

Rajagopal withdrew his plea as Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar had rejected his resignation on Friday.

Appearing before Justice V K Jain, Rajagopal's counsel told the court that, "The resignation of the petitioner has been rejected by the speaker and hence we would like to withdraw the case."

The counsel said, "The petitioner had re-submitted his resignation in the House."

Justice Jain allowed the counsel's submission to withdraw the plea.

The court had earlier agreed to examine whether it can intervene in such issue.

Rajagopal had submitted his resignation to the Speaker on August 2 in protest against the Centre's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh and form a separate Telangana state.

His counsel had argued that there was no provision in the Constitution to compel an MP to continue like this after his resignation.

Rajagopal, who represents Vijayawada Lok Sabha constituency, had said in his plea that even after over two months and repeated requests, the Speaker has not acted on his resignation and he is "compelled" to continue as member of Lok Sabha against his will.

He had sought court's direction to the Speaker to act on his resignation.

The petition had said that he tendered the resignation from the Lower House voluntarily and out of free will and this was informed to the Speaker.