Congress MP from Vijayawada Lagadapati Rajagopal has moved the Supreme Court for a direction to the Lok Sabha Speaker to accept his resignation submitted on August 2 in protest against the formation of Telangana.
In a writ petition, Mr. Rajagopal said that on August 2, he had personally submitted a letter to Speaker Meira Kumar and on September 3, he met and requested her that his resignation be accepted. Again on September 28, he reiterated his plea. But even after 65 days of submission of the letter, his resignation had not been accepted.
The petitioner said the Speaker had no right or mandate under the Constitution — nor reason, cause or justification — not to accept his resignation, as he had told her in person more than once that he had quit of his own free will and that he was not under pressure or duress. “The right of an elected Member of Parliament to resign from his seat is conferred [on him] under Article 101.” He could not be compelled to continue against his desire.