AP: Speaker rejects petitions for disqualification of 13 MLAs

Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao on Saturday rejected two separate petitions filed by Opposition YSR Congress seeking disqualification of 13 of its MLAs, who defected to the ruling TDP in recent months. "The petitions did not comply with the relevant rules seeking disqualification of the legislators. As such I have dismissed them," the Speaker told reporters. While the

first petition was filed by the then YSRC whip N Amarnath Reddy, seeking disqualification of 11 defectors, the second was filed by MLA Mustafa Sheik against two other legislators who subsequently switched sides. Both these petitions were rejected. In all 20 MLAs of YSRC defected to the Telugu Desam Party since February 22 this year. Interestingly, Amarnath Reddy too jumped over to the TDP last month.