Amid legal tussle, Kodandaram and Amer Ali sworn in MLCs

HYDERABAD: Bringing an end to a year-long drama of twists and turns and political oneupmanship, Telangana Jana Samithi president professor M Kodandaram and Urdu daily journalist Amer Ali Khan were finally sworn in as MLCs on Friday.


They took the oath as members of Telangana state legislative council under the governor's quota. Both Kodandaram and Amer Ali are now the front-runners for cabinet berths. Rumour is that Kodandaram is likely to be made education minister, and Amer Ali may get minorities welfare portfolio, both of which are presently held by CM A Revanth Reddy.


On Aug 14, the Supreme Court stayed Telangana high court order quashing former governor Tamilisai Soundararajan's approval of Kodandaram and Amer Ali as MLCs, pending final judgment.


Legislative council chairman Gutha Sukender Reddy told TOI that Kodandaram and Amer Ali were administered the oath as per the gazette issued by the Congress govt in Jan following the approval of their names by Tamilisai."They came with the copy of the Supreme Court order which had stayed Telangana high court decision of quashing Tamilisai's approval of Kodandaram and Amer Ali as MLCs. With the apex court order staying the high court order, the gazette of Jan stands good, as per which they were given the office as members of the council," he said.Kodandaram and Amer Ali thanked the AICC leadership and chief minister A Revanth Reddy, with the former stating that he was not lobbying for a cabinet berth.


BRS leader Dasoju Sravan, who had gone to the Supreme Court seeking a stay order on appointment of MLCs under the governor's quota, said: "Technically, they should have waited for the final outcome of the case in the apex court. We are not fighting to snatch their rights but seeking justice for us. We will continue our fight in the apex court."


It all began when relations between the previous BRS govt and the governor's office turned frosty. The BRS govt sent the names of Dasoju and Kurra Satyanarayana under the governor's quota in July last year. The governor's office did not take any decision and on Sept 19, rejected the names of the two BRS candidates.


Both Dasoju and Kurra approached the high court in Dec last. The Congress govt, after coming to power, sent the names of Kodandaram and Amer Ali to the governor in the last week of Jan, which were approved by Tamilisai, The same was later quashed by the high court. An SLP was filed in the apex court by the governor's office and even Dasoju went to the apex court.


Ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Ponnam Prabhakar along with senior leaders were present at the swearing in of Kodandaram and Amer Ali.



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