HYDERABAD: People of
Vemulawada assembly constituency
in
Rajanna-Sircilla
district will have to wait a little longer for their MLA,
Chennamaneni Ramesh
, to return to the constituency.
The TRS MLA is unlikely to return to Vemulawada constituency before Christmas. He had gone to Germany in March and has not returned since then.
Also, a case pertaining to a row over his citizenship is posted for hearing in the
Telangana high court
on December 16. The Union home ministry had cancelled his Indian citizenship in November 2019. However, he got a stay order on it from the high court. If Ramesh loses the case in high court, he not only stands the risk of losing Indian citizenship but also his MLA seat.
Though Ramesh has been conducting video conferences from Germany with party leaders and officials working in the constituency and staying in touch with the people, the TRS leadership has taken a serious view of his long absence and has issued an ultimatum asking him to return by December-end.
Former Karimnagar MP and state planning commission vice-chairman B Vinod Kumar said: “Ramesh has been in constant touch with the people of the constituency in various ways. He was not able to return due to the pandemic and flight services being suspended. We have asked him to return at the earliest. He is expected to arrive any time after Christmas,” Vinod Kumar said.
Meanwhile, opposition parties slammed the ruling TRS over the absence of the MLA from the constituency for such a long time. “The local legislator should be with the people in times of crisis. The people of this constituency have suffered due to the lockdown. I was with the people and extended them all the help I could. What is the use of such an MLA who goes and sits in Germany when people who voted for him needed him the most,” said Aadi Srinivas of the Congress who lost the 2018 assembly polls to Ramesh.
Repeated calls, messages on WhatsApp and e-mails to Ramesh remained unanswered.