The Speaker of the Assembly Nadendla Manohar issued notices again to 18 Members of the Assembly who acted against the Party they belong to as per the recommendations received from the Party Chiefs as some of them did not respond to previous notices.  In the fresh notices, the Speaker asked them to give an explanation in person for voting against their party’s stand in the No Trust Motion introduced by TRS on 15th March.

A long time is taken in sending notices and in taking action on them.  Even the MLAs requested the Speaker to take a decision immediately.  The notices called 9 Members to personally meet him on 13th and 9 on 14th.  

The speaker might have considered some of the following facts for that.

Removing 18 MLAs will lead to by polls that will cost money for the Government and also in general.  Government plans and activities will come to stand still for some time.  Outcome of the polls cannot be predicted.  In case it goes in favor of the opposition parties- YSRC in the case of 18 rebel MLAs, it may influence general elections too.  If YSRC gets a full sweep in 18 constituencies, MLAs from other Constituencies may cross the fence to go to YSRC camp for sure results.  Congress Party was not fully ready for the elections at that time.  Now, with the introduction of popular Government Schemes, it can be given a try now.   And above all if the time left for general elections is only one year, by polls will not take place as cleared by the Election Commission.  

The notices are served now to explain in person.  Then it will be referred to the Party heads to consider the explanation.  If the party heads are not satisfied with the explanation, they may ask the Speaker to remove them from the Membership of Legislative Assembly.  All this may take considerable time at the end of which the Members may lose their Membership and also may not have a chance to go for by polls.

Delhi Congress Party heads naturally expressed their satisfaction over the Speaker’s decision to send notices now.

AW-SriJa