MLC Elections: Opposition BRS Faces A Big Jolt!

The opposition party in Telangana Bharat Rashtra Samithi(BRS) faced a big jolt in the Court as its fight to have separate elections for the vacant MLC seats did not get the anticipated outcome. The petition was dismissed by the High Court. To challenge the EC's decision, the Court was moved.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued the notification for two MLC elections which fell vacant recently. The two MLC seats are under the MLA quota which makes the MLAs the voters and their votes will decide the winner.

However, Sabitha Indra Reddy’s son Patolla Karthik Reddy moved the Court to challenge the same. Mukul Rohatgi represented him in court and said that holding separate elections for the MLC seats is against Article 171(4).

On the other hand, the lawyer who represented the Election Commission of India said that the notification had been issued, and the Court cannot interfere in this. The counsel stressed that Article 171 applies when the elections are held after the completion of the term.

After hearing the arguments of both sides, the bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Jukanti Anil Kumar said that it cannot interfere in the issue and gave orders to hold separate elections. The petition filed by Patolla Karthik Reddy was dismissed by the Court.

The two MLC seats under the MLA quota fell vacant after Kadiam Srihari and P. Kaushik Reddy submitted their resignation. As they contested the recent elections and won as MLAs the MLC positions they held became vacant.

The notification issued by the EC says that the elections will be held on the 29th of this month. The ruling Congress party has an advantage as it won the highest seats compared to others and it can win both seats.