Andhra Pradesh Speaker disqualifies 8 MLAs from assembly

According to political analysts, the disqualification of the MLAs is unlikely to necessitate byelections as the assembly polls are expected to be held in a few weeks.

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Tammineni Sitaram has disqualified eight sitting MLAs, four each from the ruling YSRCP and the opposition TDP.

While the speaker had disqualified them under the anti-defection law on Monday, his office issued a circular regarding the disqualification on Tuesday. As the disqualification came less than six months before the general elections, a by-poll will not be conducted.

The disqualified members are Maddali Giri, Karanam Balaram, Vallabhaneni Vamsi Mohan and Vasupalli Ganesh from TDP, Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy, Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy and Undavalli Sridevi, of YSRCP.

“The following members of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly were disqualified on 26.02.2024 by the Hon'ble Speaker, Andhra Pradesh, Legislative Assembly under X Schedule of the Constitution of India and as per the Members of Andhra Pradesh Assembly (Disqualification on grounds of defection rules), 1986,” said the circular issued on Tuesday.

Acting on the complaints lodged by both the parties, the Speaker had earlier issued notices to all the eight members to hear their version before disqualifying them.

TDP had filed a petition seeking disqualification of their four MLAs who started acting as associate members of the ruling YSRCP without resigning from the TDP.

Four YSRCP MLAs last year cross-voted for the TDP candidate during MLC polls after which the ruling party petitioned the speaker.