I am empowered to act against MLAs

Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar on Sunday stated that he is empowered to act against the elected representatives under the Anti-Defection Law, in the absence of a Speaker.

Talking to media persons after meeting state Advocate General Sudarshan Reddy in his chambers, Mr Manohar said that his doubts whether he was empowered by the Constitutional Laws to initiate action against three MLAs of the Telugu Desam Party were cleared.

The Deputy Speaker said that he had called the meeting to clear his doubts after the Telugu Desam Party had demanded that action should be taken against its three MLAs, Bala Nagi Reddy, Nannapuneni Prasanna Kumar and Pocharam Srinivas under the Anti-Defection Law for supporting the Congress party indirectly and defying the party Whip during the recent Legislative Council elections.

Mr Manohar said that he needed to clear the doubts so that his post would not be under disrepute in the event of any MLA seeking legal recourse later.

The TDP has urged the Deputy Speaker to disqualify Mr Bala Nagi Reddy and Mr Nannapuneni Prasanna Kumar--under Anti Defection Law for supporting indirectly the Congress party while Mr Pocharam Srinivas has been accused of having indulged in cross-voting during the Legislative Council elections. Mr Srinivas had openly violated the Whip issued by the TDP and supported the Telangana Rashtra Samithi candidate.

“I have cleared my doubts with Advocate General over the disqualification of Constitutionally elected Members. I will soon initiate action against them as per the Anti-Defection Law” the Deputy Speaker stated.

Legal Advisor Jandhyala Ravi Shankar stated that Deputy Speaker can discharge responsibilities in the case of absence of Speaker under Article 180.