YCP urges Speaker to expel its 4 defectors from House

The YCP MLAs in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly have appealed to Speaker Kodela Sivaprasad Rao to expel their four party MLAs who have defected to the ruling Telugu Desam Party under the provisions of the Anti-Defection Act. The opposition YCP MLAs, Jyotula Nehru, Srinivasulu, Ramakrishna Reddy, Pinnelli Laxma Reddy and others, have said in a letter to the Speaker that the defecting MLAs should quit the House and seek fresh vote from the people. They have alleged that the TDP was virtually wiped out in Telangana and was going to face the same in Coastal Andhra also. That was why the TDP was encouraging defections, the YCP leaders said. The YCP MLAs said they would be meeting the Speaker specially for the purpose of discussing the matter. Defections are totally in the purview of the Speaker. Since the Speaker belongs to the ruling party, the treasury benches have generally the say in the matter. This is the precedent in Telangana. Though some of the TDP MLAs are stated to have resigned, these have not been endorsed by the Speaker in Telangana, it is alleged. The AP Speaker would follow the precedent, it is feared.