In what is called a shock, the Hyderabad High Court on Thursday ordered issue of a notice to Commercial Taxes Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav for holding a minister’s post in the Telangana State government after defecting from the Telugu Desam to the ruling party.
Admitting a writ petition filed by one Thangella Sivaprasad Reddy seeking disqualification of Srinivas Yadav as minister, the High Court asked the latter to give an explanation in four weeks. The court also asked the minister to file a counter affidavit and posted the case for four weeks. The issue of his becoming minister has become a controversy as the Telangana Telugu Desam leaders Errabelli Dayakar Rao, L Ramana and A Revanth Reddy complained to Governor ESL Narasimhan to initiate action against Srinivas Yadav. However, the Governor has no say in this regard as the Assembly Speaker S Mahusudhana Chary is the authority concerned to either accept or reject Talasani’s resignation. If the Speaker accepts his resignation it will lead to a by-election in Sanathnagar constituency from where Srinivas Yadav was elected as MLA on Telugu Desam behalf.
When the TDP leaders approached the High Court, the judges felt that the ball was in the court of the Speaker. This time around, the court responded and asked the minister to explain as to how he, who is a TD legislator, can continue as minister, it is learnt. The minister has repeatedly been insisting that he tendered his resignation to MLA post and the Speaker has to take a decision. He also expressed readiness to contest and win the bypoll as and when the situation arises.
In similar cases earlier, former chief minister and present Tamil Naidu Governor K Rosaiah earlier being the Leader of the Opposition in the Council had switched loyalties from Reddy Congress to then ruling Indira Congress and became a minister. Same was the case when Ayyapu Reddy, being the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly had switched loyalties to the ruling party and became minister.
Technically speaking, the Speaker has to take a decision only at the behest of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to put an end to the issue. (NSS)