Merger of 12 Cong MLAs with TRS as per Constitutional norms:

The merger of 12 Congress MLAs with the ruling TRS in Telangana happened as per the Constitutional norms, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said in the Assembly Thursday as members of the national party protested on the issue.

"(The members) came as per Schedule 10 of Constitution of India," Rao said.

He was responding to Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader M Bhatti Vikramarka's reference to the issue of merger.

Though some MLAs (belonging to other parties) sought to join TRS after it had won 88 of the 119 seats in assembly polls last year, the party refused to admit them as it had more than adequate numbers, Rao said.

 

Referring to the recent instances of opposition members joining the ruling parties, he cited the examples of TDP Rajya Sabha members joining BJP and Congress MLAs joining the BJP in Goa.

"Why do you blame us?... Why do they leave if you have leadership ability?" the Chief Minister asked.

"You should try to safeguard them.. As if some major crime happened or violation of Constitution," he said adding though the matter was sub-judice, he thought of talking about it as Vikramarka kept raising it.

On the merger of 12 Congress MLAs with the TRS, Vikramarka alleged that leaders are joining the ruling party regardless of the party they were elected.

The merger issue figured during debate on certain bills.

The Congress members held placards with 'Save Democracy' written on them.

Towards the end of day's business, Vikramarka also announced a walk out by his party, alleging he was not being allowed to speak.

However, Congress MLA K Rajagopal Reddy, who had been issued a show cause notice by the party for his comments against the leadership, was seen seated after the walk out was announced.

Congress had won 19 of the total 119 seats in the Assembly polls held in December last. While 12 MLAs merged with the TRS, one member (state Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy) quit after being elected to Lok Sabha.

Consequently, the strength of Congress came down to six and it has lost the status of main opposition.