Telangana House adjourned twice over 'defections'

The issue of "defections" rocked the Telangana Legislative Assembly on Monday as main opposition Congress MLAs stalled the proceedings during the Question Hour, resulting in two adjournments.

The Congress members, sporting black badges, were on their feet as soon as the House sat for the day's proceedings at 10.00 am and demanded that their adjournment motion on "defections being encouraged by the Chief Minister" be taken up for discussion immediately.

The Congress' adjournment motion came in the backdrop of defection of several Congress and Telugu Desam Party legislators to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti in the last few days.

The Congress insisted that the issue be discussed in the Assembly and the Speaker disqualify the defectors. Legislative Affairs Minister T Harish Rao reminded the agitated members that the adjournments motions could be taken up only at the end of Question Hour as agreed in the Business Advisory Committee meeting.

Information Technology Minister KT Rama Rao mocked at the protesting members, saying it was the Congress that initiated defections.

"Everyone knows how the Congress made 10 out of 26 TRS MLAs defect to its side when it was in power between 2004 and 2009. You are now trying to preach sermons," Rao remarked.

As the Congress MLAs remained in the Well of the House raising slogans, Speaker S Madhusudanachari adjourned the proceedings for 10 minutes.

Order did not restore when the House resumed, leading to a second adjournment for 30 minutes.