TD MLA to quit for T-victims’ kin

The Medak Telugu Desam legislator, Mr Mynampalli Hanumantha Rao, on Thursday startled the party leadership by announcing his decision to vacate his Assembly seat for the kin of those who laid down their life during the ongoing Telangana agitation.

Mr Rao said he would meet the Speaker, Mr N. Kirankumar Reddy, on March 9, his lucky number, and submit his resignation. There is a growing demand from the Students Joint Action Committee to nominate the kin of those died during the Telangana agitation for the bypolls from the 12 Assembly seats vacated by the TRS (10), BJP and TD (one each).

Mr Rao’s decision will put the TRS in a fix since it has not spelled out its stance on the S-JAC demand. The TD’s deputy floor leader, Dr Nagam Janardhan Reddy, tried to defuse the situation saying he would speak to the MLA since his announcement looked more like a challenge to the former TRS MLA, Mr T. Harish Rao.

Mr Hanumantha Rao has opposed the TRS demand for resuming government land in his constituency where a large number of people from other regions live.

He said that it was not correct to call those who have been living in Telangana since ages as “settlers”, the term that the TRS uses.

“I have decided to quit keeping in view the Telangana sentiments and the promise I made to people of my constituency. I am sure people of my constituency will understand the situation,” Mr Hanumantha Rao said.

He said he would request the TD leadership to give ticket for the bypoll to the kin of those who laid down their lives for Telangana. “I will work for the thumping victory of the candidate,” he added.

The TD MLA suggested that the eligible relatives of Srikanth Chary, Venugopal Reddy, Yadaiah, who committed self-immolation, or those suggested by the Students Joint Action Committee should be given ticket in the seats vacated by the TRS and others in the bypolls.