AP: Speaker rejects all MLAs resignations

HYDERABAD: In a sudden development, AP Assembly speaker Nadendla Manohar rejected the resignations submitted by 101 Telangana MLAs of various parties.Just before leaving for his London tour to attend a Commonwealth meeting, the speaker rejected the mass resignations, stating they were “tendered in emotionally surcharged atmosphere”.With this development, it is likely that Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar may reject the resignations of Telangana MPs on the same grounds.The monsoon session of Parliament will commence on August 1.A statement issued by Legislative Assembly secretary K Raja Sadaram said, “After making a due enquiry into the circumstances leading to the recent mass resignations, the Speaker has come to the opinion that they were tendered in an emotionally surcharged atmosphere and has therefore not accepted the same.’’ As many as 101 MLAs from Telangana submitted their resignations on July 3 and 4 demanding a separate state. It all began with suspended TDP MLA Nagam Janardhan Reddy who along with three other TDP MLAs puttin in their papers on July 3. On July 4, 33 TDP MLAs and around 37 Congress MLAs too submitted their resignations followed by other party MLAs in subsequent days.Though the MLAs insisted that their resignations should be accepted, Manohar bought some time. There were indications that he would follow whatever decision would be taken by Meira Kumar as MPs from Telangana too had resigned.However, the speaker took his decision without waiting for a ruling from Kumar.Notwithstanding his decision, all the parties are gearing up for a fresh agitation.The TRS MLAs have decided to meet the Assembly secretary on Sunday and submit their resignations afresh.The Telangana Telugu Desam Forum (TTDF) will meet on Sunday to discuss the speaker’s decision. “We will submit our resignations once again on Sunday,” TRS MLA K Harish Rao said. “The speaker’s decision is unilateral.He neither consulted the MLAs nor party leaders.Without giving an opportunity to the members, the decision is unethical, undemocratic and unforunate,” said TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao. “The speaker’s decision is undemocratic,’’ said Nagam Janardhan Reddy.