YSRCP suspends four rebel MLAs for cross-voting

Amaravati (IANS) | Andhra Pradesh’s ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on Friday suspended four rebel MLAs who voted for the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) candidate from the MLA quota in the Legislative Council elections. The YSRCP announced the suspension of four MLAs a day after suffering a crushing defeat for one of the seven council seats under the MLA quota.

While two of the four, Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy and Anam Ramanaraya Reddy, had already raised the flag of rebellion, the other two, Mekapati Chandrasekhara Reddy and Undavalli Sridevi, were identified after the MLC election results on Thursday.

Interestingly, the action against Sridhar Reddy comes hours after he joined the TDP. YSRCP general secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy told mediapersons that the party’s disciplinary committee has decided to suspend the four MLAs. The decision has been taken after discussion with party president and Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Sajjala alleged that TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu has bought each MLA for Rs 10 to 15 crores. He said the party took this action after it came to the conclusion that the four MLAs resorted to cross-voting.

The YSRCP leader alleged that the four MLAs voted for the TDP candidate as they were lured with money by the TDP.

In the 175-member assembly, the YSRCP has 151 members and was confident of getting the votes of four rebel TDP MLAs and the lone Jana Sena Party (JSP) MLA.

–IANS