The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Rebel TRS legislators may not be able to sit as separate block

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Rebel TRS legislators may not be able to sit as separate block

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The rebel Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) legislators may not be able to sit as a separate block in the monsoon session of the Assembly beginning on Monday.

This became evident with the Assembly Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy deciding to reserve orders till this month end in the case of disqualification under provision of anti- defection law pending against them. The arguments and production of evidence in the case had concluded on May 5.

While the ten rebels have remained intact, the strength of the official TRS MLAs dropped from sixteen to seven following the by-elections held after the last session of the Assembly. Soon after the byelections, the rebels staked claim for recognition as a separate block, as they outnumber the official group.

But their efforts proved futile as the disqualification case was pending. In addition there was the argument that the rebels were making a claim contradictory to the stand they presented before the Speaker earlier.

The nine rebels were charged by the TRS with forming a group and nominating Kasani Gyaneshwar, who represented a different party, in the Legislative Council elections in March 2007. One more MLA who joined them later was suspended by the party. The rebel group argued in the case that it did not attract anti-defection laws since TRS was not a recognised party when they were elected on its ticket in 2004. They should be treated as independents.

As orders are expected after the monsoon session, the rebel MLAs are in a dilemma about the strategy they have to adopt now during the proceedings.

The new legislature party leader of TRS Eatala Rajender has already declared that the party would have nothing to do with them.

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