Congress MLAs urge Assembly Speaker to merge with TRS

The 12 Congress party MLAs in Telangana has sought amerger with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti Legislature Party (TRSLP) who defectedto the TRS claiming themselves to be the representatives of the CongressLegislature Party (CLP).

The MLAs earlier met TRS working President K. T. RamaRao at the Pragati Bhavan apparently seeking his consent for the merger andthey went to the residence of the Speaker and submitted a memorandum seekingthe merger.

The defecting MLAs received a shot in the arm withthe joining of Tandur MLA P. Rohith Reddy taking the number to 12. Until theLok Sabha elections, their strength was 11 out of 19 and they were waiting fortwo more MLAs to meet the mandatory norm of 2/4rd strength for merger to escapedisqualification under the anti-defection law.

The 11 MLAs were Haripriya Naik, Athram Sakku, RegaKantha Rao, Sabita Indra Reddy, Kandala Upender Reddy, D. Sudheer Reddy,Chirumarti Lingaiah, Jajula Surender, B. Harshvardhan Reddy, VanamaVenkateshwara Rao and Gandra Venkataramana Reddy and the number came down to 12with TPCC chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy who resigned from Huzurnagar constituency afterbeing elected as MP from Nalgonda. His resignation was accepted within minutesand the Assembly Secretary notified the vacancy easing the way for the defectedMLAs.