Congress expels six Seemandhra MPs

The Congress Party on Tuesday expelled six MPs from Seemandhra region for serving the No Confidence Motion against the UPA Government.

The MPs who have been expelled include Vundavalli Arun Kumar, Sabbam Hari, Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, Sai Pratap, Harsha Kumar and Lagadapati Rajagopal. "Today's action is for separate Telangana. Our most important goal is to clear Telangana in Parliament," Congress leader Ajay Maken said justifying the party's action.

The expulsion came a day before the tabling of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill. The Ministry of Home Affairs sources gave clear indications that the Telangana Bill will be introduced on Wednesday in the Lok Sabha. However, the Centre is most likely to seek a fresh Presidential recommendation to introduce the Bill first in the Lok Sabha rather than the Rajya Sabha as it is a money bill.

The Seemandhra MPs were at war with the Congress High Command ever since the CWC passed a resolution on July 30 last year giving nod to the formation of Telangana by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh. They submitted resignations from the Lok Sabha which were later rejected by Speaker Meira Kumar. They continuously disrupted the proceedings of the Lok Sabha in last session and did not allow the House to function for the last five consecutive days in the extended winter session.

The Seemandhra MPs intensified their protest in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday following apprehensions that the Bill may be introduced today. However, their actions led the Congress Party to announce their expulsion.