Hyderabad, April 10: With rebel PRP MLA Katasani Ramireddy returning to the party fold, deserting Jagan Mohan Reddy camp, the party might drop disqualification proceedings against him.
Even deputy speaker Nadendla Manohar, who had earlier served notice on Katasani to respond to the disqualification petition filed by the PRP, is of the view that there would be no case if the issue was settled by the parties concerned.
Besides, he wants to first act on the disqualification petition pending against TDP rebel MLA N Prasanna Kumar Reddy (Kovur) for more than a year.
“Agar miya aur biwi raazi ho gaye tho kya kare Khazi. In general, the cases pertaining to disqualification petitions against the rebel MLAs would come only if a no-confidence motion is moved against the government concerned. But it is a different situation in the state,’’ Manohar reportedly remarked before his close aides.
Katasani met the deputy speaker at his chambers on Monday with a request to give him three more days to reply to the notice served on him on April 29. It is learnt that the latter had agreed to the request.
Talking to newsmen later, Katasani claimed that he had never criticised his leader Chiranjeevi nor defied the party orders.
The letter opposing the merger of PRP and Congress which was earlier given to the Election Commission would be withdrawn, and another letter accepting the merger would be sent to the Election Commission.
“There is no question of going back to Jagan even if he wins the Kadapa byelection. Basically, I am a Congressman and have been in the party for about 20 years. Later I joined the PRP as the Congress did not offer party ticket to contest. I am not a person to be lured by others. I will reply to the notice shortly after consulting my advocate,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, PRP whip Vanga Geetha, who also met the deputy speaker on the disqualification petition issue, told newsmen that Katasani has ‘voluntarily’ decided to continue in the PRP and no influence was used against him in this regard.
The PRP would respond to the disqualification petition after seeing the explanation given by Katasani to the notice. “We (PRP) welcome Katasani’s decision to continue in the party,’’ she added.
It may be recalled that the PRP whip had submitted two petitions on April 28 to the deputy speaker seeking disqualification of rebel MLAs Bhuma Shobha Nagi Reddy (Allagadda) and Katasani Ramireddy (Banaganapalle) for their ‘anti-party activities.’
–Agencies