3 hours ago
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Assembly Speaker G. Prasad Kumar is all set to resume hearings on the disqualification petitions filed against four BRS legislators for allegedly switching loyalty to the ruling Congress.
The Tribunal, headed by the Speaker, constituted under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution will take up hearing on Friday. The proceedings will start with oral arguments by the advocates of the petitioners Kalvakuntla Sanjay and Chinta Prabhakar against MLAs T. Prakash Goud and Kale Yadaiah respectively. The advocates of each of the MLAs will present their stand on the charges of disqualification moves against their clients.
Hearing on oral arguments by the BRS leadership represented by Mr. Chinta Prabhakar and Palla Rajeshwar Reddy against legislators Gudem Mahipal Reddy and Bandla Krishnamohan Reddy respectively would follow after the lunch break. Advocates from the two sides will present their views in favour of and against the disqualification petitions in the afternoon session.
Restrictions on the movement of visitors will be in force during the arguments. Elected representatives and leaders of the political parties with representation in the Assembly would not be allowed inside the legislature building till the process is completed towards the evening.
The hearing is likely to be followed by summons to four more BRS MLAs — Arekapudi Gandhi, Tellam Venkat Rao, Sanjay Kumar and Pocharam Srinivas Reddy — who face charges of defection. The BRS leadership is learnt to have submitted documentary and video evidence in a bid to prove that the MLAs have indeed switched sides. The eight MLAs, on their part, submitted explanation that they continued to be with the BRS and would not come under the purview of the provisions pertaining to disqualification.
Two MLAs Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari did not submit explanation to the notices served on them so far. It will be interesting to see the course of action the tribunal headed by the Speaker would adopt in their case.
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