Source: mynation.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hyderabad:<\/strong> After as many as 12 MLAs crossed over to \nthe ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the state, a disgruntled \nCongress has decided to move high court on June 10. The party has also \nannounced state-wide protests against the Assembly Speaker\u2019s decision in\n recognising their merger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Congress also alleged that the TRS had \u201cpurchased\u201d the MLAs and \nwas looking to approach the Lokpal and also raise the issue in the \nupcoming Parliament session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Congress activists took to the streets in various parts of Telangana on Friday protesting against the merger, state Congress president Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that the leader of the opposition in the Assembly Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka will stage a 36-hour long fast here from 11 am on Saturday. He also said Congress would hold protest demonstrations across the state from Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n TRS spokesperson Abid Rasool Khan spoke to MyNation<\/em> and said\n that the fast is only a publicity stunt. Khan further went on to say, \n\u201cIf the Congress was truly so concerned, then they should have gone and \nserved the people. But they never bothered.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another member who had left the Congress for the TRS and grabbed \nheadlines for it was Krishank Manne, who was the Congress spokesperson \nin Telangana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Manne threw light on why the MLAs may have decided to join the TRS. \nHe said, \u201cEach MLA has a different reason. But several members have been\n against Uttam Kumar Reddy and sought his removal. But when that didn\u2019t \nhappen, they decided to join the TRS.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Manne questioned, \u201cWhy would someone want to be part of a\n sinking ship? Especially when there is a leadership crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking about allegations of the TRS \u201cpurchasing\u201d the lawmakers, \nManne asked, \u201cWhy would the TRS purchase these MLAs when they are \nalready in majority?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n MyNation <\/em>tried to contact the Telangana Congress, however, they remained unavailable for comment, including the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) chief Uttam Kumar Reddy, who disconnected calls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Thursday, Telangana Assembly Speaker P Srinivas Reddy recognised \n12 MLAs of the Congress as members of the TRS hours after they sought \nmerger of their group with the ruling party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Speaker acceded to the request of the MLAs considering the fact \nthat they constituted two-thirds of the Congress Legislature Party, a \nrequirement for merger under the anti-defection law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Congress had won 19 seats in the Assembly polls in December last \nyear, but in the past few months, 11 of the MLAs had switched loyalties \nto the TRS though officially they did not resign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A day after Uttam Kumar Reddy resigned as MLA following his victory \nin the Lok Sabha election and the seat was declared vacant, Rohith \nReddy, on Thursday, joined the rebels, boosting their strength to the \ntwo-thirds figure of 12. The MLAs have said they were joining the TRS \nfor the development of the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A bulletin from the Assembly on Thursday night said seats had been \nallotted to the 12 MLAs along with the members of the Telangana Rashtra \nSamithi Legislature Party in the House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unless the merger is reversed, the Congress is set to lose its \n\u2018opposition party\u2019 status in the Assembly as its strength has come down \nto six.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The setback for the Congress in Telangana came at a time when the \nparty has been on the backfoot in several states including Karnataka and\n Rajasthan following dissidence among its ranks after the Lok Sabha \nelection drubbing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Addressing reporters here on Friday, Uttam Kumar Reddy had said the \nparty would file a petition in the Telangana high court on Monday \nagainst the merger of its MLAs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is already one petition pending in the high court (related to \ndefection of MLAs). \u201cOn Monday, we are filing another petition and on \nJune 11, our earlier petition will come up for hearing,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Uttam Kumar Reddy had also said the party was collecting evidence in \nsupport of its case to be filed before the Lokpal, the anti-corruption \nombudsman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Congress general secretary in-charge of party affairs in Telangana RC\n Khuntia, who was also present, had said the issue of defections would \nbe raised in the next Parliament session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A group of students from the Osmania University staged a protest \nrally and symbolically performed the “last rites” of the MLAs, who \nswitched over, a Congress release said.<\/p>\n