Congress seeks disqualification of 4 rebel MLCs

Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Leader of Opposition in Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Friday demanded disqualification of four rebel MLCs and described their demand for merger with TRSLP as unconstitutional. 

"Under the Constitution of India, as held by several judgments of the Supreme Court, Chairman/Speaker is not competent to merge a political party. As per the Constitution of Indian National Congress, State units have no power to merge with other parties. A national party cannot be merged with a regional political party. Seeking merger per se incurs disqualification. Rank and file of a political party throughout the nation has to accept for merger," Uttam and Shabbir said in their representation made to Legislative Council chairman Swamy Goud. 

Further, the Congress leaders said that Para 4 of the Xth Schedule to Constitution is not independent as it has to be read harmonious with other paras. Disqualification of these 4 MLCs has to be decided before deciding any application given by these 4 MLCs, they said.