Ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) has bagged the post of legislative Council Chairman in an election marred by the boycott by the main Opposition Congress and the Telugu Desam Party.
Swamy Goud, a former president of Telagnana employees union, was elected as the Chairman of legislative Council. In a House of 32 members, he received 21 votes in a secret ballot conducted by deputy chairman N Vidyasagar Rao.Voting was held despite its opposition by the Congress on the ground that the defection of its members to TRS was unconstitutional. Recently seven MlCs of Congress and two MlCs of TDP had joined TRS giving majority to the ruling party.
Before walking out of the House, Congress members shouted slogans in protest against the elections. D Srinivas, leader of the Congress in Council had demanded cancellation of elections. “The decision to adopt secret ballot method in this election is malafide,” he alleged. He said luring the members of other parties was undemocratic and before election, the Council should take a decision on the notices given by the party.
Congress members rushed to the podium of the Chairman demanding the cancellation of elections leading to confrontation between the Congress and TRS members.