HYDERABAD: The Congress party cracked the whip on 16 MLAs who jumped the fence and voted in favour of the recent no-trust motion in the Assembly, on behalf of YSR Congress. This was the first time that such a large number of MLAs were facing disqualification in the state.Government whips Kondru Murali and S Sailajanath met Speaker Nadendla Manohar at the Assembly on Monday night and submitted 16 separate letters against the MLAs. They urged the Speaker to disqualify the MLAs as they defied the party whip and resorted to anti-party activity. However, the party did not take any decision on Putalapattu Ravi, who abstained from voting, and associate MLA Somarapu Satyanarayana.Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy discussed the matter with party high command in New Delhi recently and the Congress Legislature Party decided to crack the whip on rebel MLAs. On Monday, Murali discussed the issue with Kiran Kumar Reddy and later held discussions with legal experts. As per their advice, Murali prepared 16 separate letters and submitted the petitions to the Speaker under 10th Schedule of the Constitution.Speaking to reporters later, Murali said the party had been persuading all the 16 MLAs for the last one year.“The party reminded them that they were elected on Congress ticket and should work for the party. But, they voted against the party,” Murali said. He also differed with the argument of 16 Congress MLAs that they voted in favour of the no-trust motion as Kiran Reddy government was anti-farmer. “People know the argument of the 16 MLAs is wrong,” Murali added.He said Kiran Reddy government extended loans to the tune of `48,000 crore to farmers.“Loans to women are offered at zero interst. Rs 5,000 crore were paid to students under fee reimbursement.The government is filling 1.16 lakh jobs in government and another 15 lakh under Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu,” Murali recalled and wondered whether all these programmes were anti-people.“People understand the truth. They would not pardon Jagan and YSRC,” Murali said.On Putalapattu Ravi case, Murali said that the MLA abstained from voting and sent a letter to the party stating that he was absent due to ill health. “Ravi’s letter is under examination of the party.Let us wait what decision the party will take,” Murali said.He said that sunmitting a disqualification petition against associate member Somarapu Satyanarayana was under examination.To a query, Murali said the party would withdraw the disqualification petition submitted earlier against Adinarayana Reddy (Jammalamadugu).Reddy assured that he would for the party, he said.
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