Seven newly-elected MLCs of TS, A.P. take oath

Clash between supporters of the TDP and YSR Congress averted

The newly-elected members of AP Legislative Council sharing pleasantries after the swearing-in ceremony in Hyderabad on Monday. (Below) Legislative Council Chairman A. Chakrapani administering the oath to member G. Sudha Rani. -Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

Seven newly-elected MLCs, two from Telangana and five from Andhra Pradesh, were administered the oath by the respective Chairmen of the two Legislative Councils here on Monday.

The police prevented a possible clash between the supporters of the ruling TDP and the Opposition YSR Congress on the AP Council premises with their timely intervention. Supporters of the two parties gathered in large numbers and started raising slogans in support of YSR Congress president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his son Lokesh. There was some jostling between the two sides before the police intervened.

Palla Rajeshwar Reddy (TRS) and N. Ramchander Rao (BJP), representing the Graduate constituencies of Nalgonda-Khammam-Warangal and Hyderabad-Rangareddy-Mahabubnagar, respectively, were administered the oath by Telangana Council Chairman K. Swamy Goud. The two MLCs fill the vacancies, which had opened up after the retirement of K. Dileep Kumar and Prof K. Nageshwar, whose six-year term ended on Sunday. Speaking after taking the oath, the new MLCs thanked the graduates who supported them in the election. They paid tributes to Telangana martyrs at the memorial in Gun Park in front of the Assembly building before proceeding to the Council premises.

Mr. Rajeshwar Reddy said he would highlight the problems of unemployed graduates in the Council, particularly regarding the filling of vacancies by the government. Deputy Chairman of the Council N. Vidyasagar, Deputy Chief Ministers Md. Mahamood Ali, K. Srihari, Home Minister N. Narsimha Reddy, MP A.P. Jitender Reddy and BJP leaders G. Kishan Reddy and K. Laxman were among those who were present.

Meanwhile, AP Council Chairman A. Chakrapani administered the oath to V.V.V. Chowdary, G. Sudha Rani and A. Ramakrishna (all TDP) and P. Subhash Chandra Bose and K. Veerabhadra Swamy (both YSR Congress).

Mr. Ramakrishna has been elected from Krishna-Guntur Teachers’ constituency, while the remaining four MLCs who took oath on Monday, were elected unopposed in the MLAs’ quota. Two other MLCs G. Thippeswamy (TDP-MLAs’ quota) and R. Surya Rao (Independent from East West Godavari Teachers’ Constituency) did not take the oath on Monday.