With the threat of disqualification looming large on the four Telangana Rashtra Samithi MLCs who had defected to the Congress party before elections, they are now trying to find excuses to save their posts.
While one of the four MLCs – Konda Murali resigned from his membership right royally stating that he was ready to face the by-elections, the other three – Ramulu Naik, Yadava Reddy and Bhupathi Reddy are looking for legal loopholes to avoid being disqualified.
On Monday, Ramulu Naik gave his reply to the show-cause notice issued served on him by legislative council chairman K Swamy Goud. In his reply, Naik said there was no proof that he had actually joined the Congress party.
“It is true that I had met Congress president Rahul Gandhi, but I did not join the Congress. I only met him to submit a representation on tribal issues,” he said.
He pointed out that TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao was also meeting leaders of several other parties in the country in the name of third front.
“Does it mean he is joining their parties?” he asked.
The MLC clarified that he had been appointed by Governor in recognition of his social service to the tribal community and as such, the Anti-Defection Law did not apply to him.
He said he had been suspended from the TRS only because he was raising the issues pertaining to STs.
Naik sought to know why no action was taken against the Congress and Telugu Desam Party MLAs who had joined the TRS.
“I am being victimized only because I am an ST. The TRS is trying to foist false cases against me; and eliminate me physically through supari gangs. KCR alone is held responsible of something happens to my life,” the MLC said.