BRS MLAs walk out of PAC meeting alleging violation of traditions of Assembly-Telangana Today

The lawmakers, led by former minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy, criticize the appointment of Serlingampally MLA Arekapudi Gandhi as PAC chairman

Hyderabad: The BRS lawmakers organized a strike of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) rally, held at the State Legislative Assembly on Monday, protesting against the appointment of Serlingampally MLA Arekapudi Gandhi as PAC chairman.

The legislators, led by former minister Vemula Prashanth Reddycriticized the appointment, calling it a blatant violation of the Assembly’s traditions by the ruling Congress.

Minister of Legislative Affairs D Sridhar BabuGandhi’s claims that Gandhi remains a BRS MLA did little to mollify the opposition, which questioned party loyalty and the motives behind the appointment.

In conversation with media people Telangana Bhavan later, Prashanth Reddy said the Congress had ‘illegally’ appointed Gandhi to the influential PAC chairman position traditionally given to the opposition MLA. “Arekapudi Gandhi, who had defected from the BRS to the Congress, was appointed by the Congress against long-standing norms, ignoring T Harish Rao, the candidate recommended by our leader and former Chief Minister. K Chandrashekhar Rao”, he stated. He demanded that Congress reconsider its decision and honor the traditions at least for now.

He recalled that when the BRS was in power, they had appointed Congress-proposed candidates such as Krishna Reddy and Geetha Reddy as PAC chairmen. He pointed out that KC Venugopal, recommended by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, was even appointed as PAC chairman at the Center in the Parliament.

“The Congress leaders themselves are contradicting each other, with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy holding meetings with defected MLAs and TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud defending the induction of Opposition MLAs into the party. While Congress MLC T Jeevan Reddy demanded disqualification of the defectors, TPCC campaign committee chairman Madhu Yashki Goud noted that the MLAs had joined the ruling party to protect their property,” he added.

BRS MLC Satyavathi Rathod condemned Congress’ bulldozer policy and accused Congress of rewarding MLAs for defectors. She pointed out that even after the Supreme Court proposed to take a decision on the disqualification of defected MLAs, no steps had been taken. She argued that the recommendation of K Chandrashekhar Rao, as Leader of Opposition, should be honored while appointing the PAC chairman.

MLC L Ramana expressed outrage and explained the critical nature of the PAC chairman’s position in overseeing government expenditure. “How will the PAC maintain objectivity while Gandhi, aligned with Congress interests, is at the helm of affairs?” he wondered, echoing BRS concerns about partisan politics threatening the integrity of the role.