CLP leader launches indefinite fast against merger of party MLAs with TRS in T’gana

Hyderabad, June 8 (PTI): A Congress leader in Telangana Saturday began an indefinite fast in protest against the “illegal” merger of 12 party MLAs with the ruling TRS, even as AIMIM announced it would seek opposition status in Assembly as it now has more number of MLAs than Congress. Congress Legislature Party leader M Bhatti Vikramarka launched his fast for 36 hours at the Dharna Chowk here, but state Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said in the evening that it has been converted into an indefinite one. “When a disqualification petition is pending, it means we have announced that the concerned person does not belong to Congress party. Then his Assembly membership should be cancelled,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said at the protest venue. “But, how did Speaker accept letter (seeking merger with TRS) on 6th (of June) by considering them as Congress MLAs. We seek an explanation to people of Telangana,” he said. The breakaway MLAs themselves have announced that they are leaving Congress, Reddy said. Addressing the gathering, AICC in-charge of Congress affairs RC Khuntia alleged that the TRS sought to promote an autocratic regime and “finish” opposition parties in the state through the merger of Congress MLAs. The merger of the 12 Congress MLAs with TRS is “illegal” and “undemocratic”, he alleged. The Congress party respected a Dalit leader (Vikramarka) by making him the leader of its legislature party, Khuntia said and asked if Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and TRS did not like a Dalit becoming leader of an opposition party. The Congress has decided to go to the High Court and also Supreme Court, if need be, on the issue, besides raising it in Parliament, he said. Vikramarka said the fast has been taken up to safeguard democracy as values of democracy and Constitution are hurt. As the Congress’ strength has come down to six, one less than that of AIMIM, it may lose the status of the main opposition party in the 119-member House.