In a defiant move, YSR Congress rebel MLAs faced Assembly Speaker Tammineni Sitaram on Monday following notices under the anti-defection law. The meeting, however, concluded on a tense note as the MLAs, seeking more time for preparation, clashed with the Speaker, who adamantly rejected their request.
Post the meeting, MLA Anam Ramanarayana Reddy disclosed a contentious exchange. He raised concerns about the absence of government chief whip Prasada Raju, the complainant in the disqualification case, but the Speaker dismissed it as unnecessary. Reddy’s plea for a four-week extension to gather legal counsel and build their case was also outrightly denied. This development points toward a potential escalation in the ongoing conflict between the YSRC party and its rebel MLAs.
The Speaker’s refusal to extend the timeline suggests a commitment to expeditiously proceed with the disqualification process, while the rebels’ resistance and insistence on due process indicate a potential legal challenge in the offing.