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The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) party in Andhra Pradesh has suspended member of parliament M Vijayashanti for “anti-party activities” amid reports that she planned to join the Congress. |
TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao announced her suspension after the politburo took a decision.
Vijayashanti was also served a show-cause notice, asking her to explain why the party should not expel her for “anti-party activities”. The politburo cracked the whip as the actress-turned-politician was planning to switch loyalties to the Congress party.
The MP from Medak reportedly decided to join the Congress after the latter decided to carve out a separate Telangana state from Andhra Pradesh.
Vijayashanti is said to be camping in Delhi.
Sources said she could join the Congress any time now. She had been staying away from TRS activities for the last few months because of differences with Rao.
Vijayashanti had been angry ever since she was informed that Rao was keen to contest from Medak in the 2014 elections.
The TRS president currently represents Mahabubnagar parliamentary constituency.
Vijayashanti, who was advised to contest from Secunderabad constituency, had stated that nobody could prevent her from seeking re-election from Medak for as long as she enjoyed the support of the people of Medak.
In the 2009 elections, Vijayashanti had threatened to quit TRS after she was named party candidate from Mahabunagar. Rao, who wanted to contest from Medak, conceded to her demand at the last minute.
The actress, who earned the nickname “Lady Amitabh” for her action roles, was reluctant to contest from Mahbubnagar, which is not considered a TRS stronghold.
The 49-year-old actress, whose film career spans three decades, had joined the BJP in 1997. Vijayshanti, who was the national general secretary of the BJP’s women wing, quit the party in 2005 to float a separate outfit to fight for statehood for Telangana.
IAS officer suspension
justified: chief minister IANS
Speaking in Lucknow after a cabinet meeting, the chief minister said that the suspended officer’s action against a mosque could have led to communal trouble.
“The government is within its right to suspend any errant official and we have done so in accordance to laid down norms,” he said.
He rubbished charges that Nagpal was suspended under the pressure of the sand mining mafia, against whom she had acted in Noida district adjoining the national capital. “There was nothing in the matter that is even distantly related to illegal mining,” the chief minister said.
Members of the All India IAS (Indian Administrative Service) Association meanwhile met Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, V Narayanasamy, in New Delhi and asked the central government to revoke the suspension.
The association submitted a representation demanding the amendment of rules to clearly list a prior course of action for suspension of an IAS officer.
The minister later told reporters that the central government was waiting for a report from the Uttar Pradesh government.
“We will look into the matter as soon the reply comes. We will ensure that all rules are followed and the government looks into issues in a dispassionate manner,” Narayanasamy said.
Members of the association said they would ensure that Nagpal gets justice.
“The centre can intervene in the matter on the basis of new facts being brought to the government, or if revision is filed by the officer concerned. In that case, the decision of the centre will be final,” association secretary Sanjay R Bhoosreddy said. He added that if Nagpal got no relief, the association would approach the court. Nagpal was suspended on July 28.
The Uttar Pradesh government said she was suspended for ordering a wall of a mosque in Noida to be demolished. A report of the Noida district magistrate has said Nagpal had not ordered the demolition but the chief minister was not moved.
“One has to look into the reports in totality. The government has done the right thing after study of various ground reports,” he said.
The chief minister vented his anger at the lobbying by the IAS association and reminded them how IAS officers were not even able to speak during the time of his predecessor Mayawati.