Hyderabad HC issues notice to Telangana govt, Talasani Srinivas in defection case

The Hyderabad High Court on Thursday issued notices to the state of Telangana and its commercial taxes minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav, asking them to defend themselves on a plea that questioned the minister's eligibility.

Talasani was initially elected on a TDP ticket from Sanathnagar but soon sent his resignation letter to Assembly Speaker S Madhusudhan Chary and joined chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's cabinet.

The case, which was filed by Tangella Siva Prasad Reddy contended that Srinivas Yadav should not have been sworn in as a minister after he defected from the TDP. The court has given six weeks to the authorities to respond, a report in The Hindu adds.

The ruling TRS party in the state, which has increased its strength to 75 MLAs from the original 63 MLAs in the legislative assembly has drawn flak for welcoming defectors from the TDP, Congress and the YSRCP.

"Our plea is against Talasani continuing as a minister. He got elected from TDP and later resigned from the primary membership of the party and joined the TRS regime" a report in the Times of India quotes the petitioner's counsel as saying.

The TOI report also adds:

Telangana advocate general K Ramakrishna Reddy told the bench that Talasani did not join TRS party, but joined the cabinet as a minister. The bench issued notices to the respondents and sought their replies.