The disqualification of eight MLAs by Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Tammineni Seetharam on Monday night, for shifting their loyalties to other parties, did not come as a surprise to anyone.
Among the disqualified MLAs are four from the ruling YSRCP and four from the opposition TDP.
The disqualified YSRCP MLAs are Venkatgiri MLA Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Tadikonda MLA Undavalli Sridevi, Nellore Rural MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy, and Udayagiri MLA Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy. The four TDP MLAs who were disqualified are Guntur West MLA Maddali Giri, Chirala MLA Karanam Balaram, Gannavaram MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi, and Vizag West MLA Vasupalli Ganesh.
The disqualification of rebel YSRCP MLAs followed a complaint lodged by Mudunuru Prasad Raju, the YSRCP chief whip, while the disqualification of rebel TDP MLAs was based on a petition submitted by Dola Bala Veeranjaneyaswamy, the TDP whip.
The YSRCP had previously suspended these four MLAs for allegedly voting in favor of a TDP MLC contestant from the assembly quota in 2023, while the rebel TDP MLAs openly shifted their loyalties to the YSRCP.
However, the timing of their disqualification was surprising, coming less than two weeks before the announcement of the schedule for assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
For all practical purposes, the disqualified MLAs cease to hold their posts after the schedule is announced. In fact, all other MLAs would also have no status after the announcement of the schedule, as they cannot undertake any work in their respective constituencies.
While the disqualified MLAs could technically continue as MLAs by moving the court and obtaining a stay, they would not enjoy any other benefits of their position, nor have any influence in their respective constituencies.
The Speaker's decision to disqualify them may not have any immediate effect on these eight MLAs. Nevertheless, for the record's sake, Seetharam might have taken the decision.
The Speaker acted on the petitions submitted by the whips of both parties last month. On January 25, notices were issued to the eight MLAs, asking them to explain why they should not be disqualified.
They appeared before the Speaker for the first time on February 5 but have been avoiding the inquiry since then, sending letters to the Speaker’s office seeking more time.
The YSRCP rebel MLAs even appealed to the high court challenging the proceedings issued by the Speaker for their disqualification.
However, the high court declined to issue interim orders and scheduled further hearings. Finally, after legal consultation, the Speaker issued the disqualification notices.