RS Chairman committed blunder by allowing TDP MPs to join BJP

Vijayawada: State Assembly Speaker Tammineni Sitaram felt that Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has committed a blunder by allowing the four Rajya Sabha members of the Telugu Desam Party to join the BJP.

He said it is regrettable that the Rajya Sabha Chairman, who is in top position had encouraged defections. He said the country needs value-based politics in the current scenario.

Tammineni participated in a Meet-the-Press' programme conducted at the Vijayawada Press Club on Sunday. Replying a question on the TDP Rajya Sabha MPs joining in the BJP, he said it was wrong to encourage defections. He said that the Anti-defection law should be honoured and defections should be discouraged.

He questioned,"How can we lead the Legislative Houses when we dishonour the rules and ethics. He felt the nation needs value-based politics in this hour." Responding to a question on issuing notices to three news channels during the recently concluded Assembly session in the State, the Speaker said the channels were broadcasting programmes violating the Assembly regulations. The managements, in spite of knowing the rules and regulations of the Assembly rules, broadcast news from the Assembly premises, he stated.