16 Jagan campers disqualified

HYDERABAD: In what could be termed as an unprecedented decision in the history of the AP Legislative Assembly, Speaker Nadendla Manohar on Friday night disqualified 16 MLAs of the ruling Congress who had voted against the government during a no-trust motion in December last year, sailing with Kadapa MP and YSR Congress chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The Speaker also accepted the resignation of Praja Rajyam MLA B Sobha Nagi Reddy, who too had backed Jagan.The surprise development has brought down the strength of Congress from 154 to 137 in the 294-member House but does not threaten the Kiran Kumar Reddy government, which still enjoys the support of 17 PRP members and seven of MIM. However, disqualifications of the MLAs is bound to stir up much political heat. It must be recalled here that Congress and PRP, had filed petitions on December 12, seeking disqualification of the 17 rebel MLAs for defying the parties’ whip and voting in support of the no-confidence motion brought by the N Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP on famers’ issues. Nadendla Manohar has finally acted on the petitions after almost two months.Analysts felt that the notification for another round of byelections for the 17 seats which will be issued in due course, may turn out to be a mini-Assembly election. It may be noted here that bypolls to seven vacant seats are scheduled for March 18.