Fate dashes hopes of MLC-elect, again
Bad luck seems to be dogging Congress MLC-elect R. Venkatarami Reddy, whose much hyped oath-taking ceremony as an MLC had to be postponed on Monday at the eleventh hour due to a court order. In 2009, Mr Venkatarami Reddy had lost to A. Narsa Reddy of the Telugu Desam in the lone MLC seat from Nizamabad local body constituency. He was earlier elected in 2007 from the same constituency for six years but had to be content with two years in the draw of lots to determine the term of all elected MLCs, which is now mandatory.
In the April 2009 election, although the Congress won with a landslide, in the first round of counting Mr Venkatarami Reddy won by three votes. However, in the recounting, Mr Narsa Reddy was declared the winner by a single vote. Following the declaration of Mr Narsa Reddy as the winner, Mr Venkatrami Reddy filed a petition in AP High Court seeking the result to be declared null and void and that he should be declared elected. In reply, Mr Narsa Reddy too filed petitions, both in the HC and the Supreme Court on the nature of recounting of votes. Finally, the SC ordered recounting, with the election petition pending in the High Court.
After several months, the High Court on July 20 declared Mr Narsa Reddy’s election as invalid and declared Mr Venkatarami Reddy the winner. On Saturday, an elated Mr Venkatarami Reddy reached the Legislative Council with the court order to take oath as member only to be informed that Chairman, A. Chakrapani had gone abroad and the oath could not be administered to him.
He contacted Mr Chakrapani and was informed he would return on Monday and the oath taking could be scheduled for 9 am. Meanwhile, Mr Narsa Reddy moved a house motion in the HC, seeking a stay on the earlier judgment in order to allow him to file an appeal before the SC. The court asked him to file a petition on Monday. On Monday morning when Mr Venkatarami Reddy reached the Mr Chakrapani’s chambers at 9 am, he was informed that the Chairman’s flight was delayed by three hours. Mr Chakrapani reached his chambers around noon to conduct the oath taking ceremony.
PCC President Botsa Satyanarayana and other Congress leaders had also gathered at the chambers. In the meantime, the HC stayed its earlier orders for four weeks to allow Mr Narsa Reddy to file an appeal in the SC. Mr Narsa Reddy immediately faxed the orders to Mr Chakrapani’s office from the HC and rushed to reach his chambers with the orders. Mr Narsa Reddy handed over the copy of HC orders to Mr Chakrapani, who declared that oath taking cannot be held. He left soon after. Several Congress leaders were seen consoling Mr Venkatarami Reddy on his ‘bad luck’ and wished that the SC will do justice. to him.
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