The ongoing controvers over defection of Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLAs into the Congress party, state assembly speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar on Thursday gave a clean chit to two more legislators—Chevella MLA Kale Yadaiah and Banswada MLA Pocharam Srinivas Reddy.
After conducting multiple hearings and examining arguments from both sides, the speaker gave the ruling that there was no conclusive evidence to establish that they had defected from the BRS to the Congress and hence, they cannot be disqualified under Anti-Defection Law.
The speaker stated that the allegations of party switching against the two MLAs could not be substantiated. Consequently, he declared that Kale Yadaiah and Pocharam Srinivas Reddy would continue to be recognised as BRS legislators in the assembly.
“The evidence placed before me does not prove that these MLAs have formally defected from their party. Hence, they shall be treated as BRS members,” Prasad Kumar said in his ruling.
This is the second such instance where the speaker has rejected the petitions filed by the BRS seeking disqualification of defectors.
Earlier, he had delivered a similar verdict in the cases of five other MLAs who were accused of switching loyalties, citing lack of documentary and legal proof.
Meanwhile, defection cases involving three other MLAs—Danam Nagender, Kadiyam Srihari and Jagtial MLA Sanjay—are still pending before the speaker. Sources indicate that a decision in these cases could be taken soon.
The inquiry into the case of MLA Sanjay has already been completed, and the speaker has reserved his order. Political circles are abuzz with speculation that Sanjay too may be given a clean chit on similar grounds.
Danam Nagender, for his part, has publicly stated that he continues to be with the Congress party, while Kadiyam Srihari has maintained that he remains with the BRS.
With these conflicting claims, suspense continues over how the speaker will rule in the remaining three cases.
