Date:29/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/29/stories/2008072960110600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

TDP seeks disqualification of two expelled party MPs

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Party Parliamentary Party leader K. Yerran Naidu submitted two representations to Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Monday seeking disqualification of MPs -- M. Jagannath and Adikeshavulu Naidu -- for defying the party whip during the recent trust vote.

While the letter in case of Mr. Jagannath sought his disqualification for defying the whip, the other representation mentioned that Mr. Adikeshavulu Naidu had acted in defiance of the whip by not casting the electronic vote and wanted him to be disqualified, according to TDP sources here.

The party has already expelled the MPs.

Meanwhile, even before Mr. Audikesavulu Naidu announced his new political affiliation; the Congress expressed its willingness to field him against TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu from Kuppam Assembly constituency.

APCC president D. Srinivas explained the cordial relationship Mr. Adikesavulu had with the Congress party. At a press conference convened by him to condemn Mr. Naidu’s remarking that ‘thieves’ were leaving the TDP to join the Congress, Mr. Srinivas gave ample hints that his party was more than willing to take the expelled MP into its fold. Mr. Srinivas said Mr. Naidu’s utterances were due to frustration and helplessness to curb desertions.

He said the Congress would not tolerate such harsh remarks in future.

He said: “Mr Adikesavulu had joined the TDP by mistake. He is a staunch Congressman, who switched sides a few years ago due to some compulsions.”

Stating that Mr. Adikesavulu was the right choice for the Congress to contest against the TDP chief, he pointed out that in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, the former had secured more votes than Mr. Naidu in Kuppam constituency.