Panel for 1-yr suspension of Andhra Pradesh lawmaker Roja

The Committee of Privileges of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly has recommended the suspension of YSR Congress MLA RK Roja from service for one year, after concluding that she resorted to “unwarranted and uncalled-for behaviour” in the House.

However, the Assembly, which discussed the issue for four hours on Monday, decided to give her another chance to appear before the Committee of Privileges to present her case. Roja has not attended the four previous meetings of the Committee. The House had placed Roja under suspension for one year on December 18, 2015. A legal battle is on over the issue even as the Committee of Privileges has come up with the fresh recommendation.

The Committee, led by senior MLA Gollapalli Surya Rao, found another YSRC member Kodali Srivenkateswara Rao (Nani) guilty of making serious remarks (against some members of the ruling TDP) and recommended that the House take appropriate action against him.

The House would take a decision on this, Legislative Affairs Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said. The Committee, however, exonerated three other MLAs of the YSRC as they expressed “regrets” for having used unparliamentary language in the House on December 18, 2015.