Cong. MLA suspended from party

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MAY 16. The Congress- I MLA, Mr. M. Narasimhulu, was suspended from the party on Tuesday for pledging support to the Telugu Desam candidate, Mrs. A. Uma Madhava Reddy, in the Bhongir Assembly byelection. His suspension, announced by the APCC-I president, Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, in a press release does not come as a surprise as he has been, for some time, moving closer to the ruling TDP.

The APCC press release says Mr. Narasimhulu has been suspended for making irresponsible statements and indulging in anti-party activities in connection with the byelections to the Bhongir constituency.

The Dalit MLA, representing the Alair constituency in Nalgonda district, announced his support to Mrs. Uma Madhava Reddy at a press conference, justifying the same on the plea that the TDP nominee was a woman who deserved sympathy.

Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy informally consulted available party leaders on the ``anti-party stand'' of Mr. Narasimhulu in the byelection, and decided on the suspension. An explanation would be sought from Mr. Narasimhulu, party sources said.

Differences between Mr. Narasimhulu, who joined the Congress a few months before the general election in September last, and the PCC-I president arose over the choice of candidates for the election for the Bhongir Assembly constituency and the municipality. In both cases, the Alair legislator alleged that he had been sidelined by the PCC-I president. He propped his protege, Mr. Pramod Kumar, as independent, in the Bhongir municipal elections thus helping indirectly the ruling party.

Sources said Mr. Narasimhulu was unhappy at not being accommodated on the CLP executive. While announcing support to the TDP nominee, he launched a tirade against the PCC-I president alleging that the party became the pocketborough of Dr. Reddy.

A staunch supporter of the movement for categorisation of the SCs, Mr. Narasimhulu differed with the party on many occasions when the issue figured in the State Assembly.

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Section  : Regional
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