Congress MP's KVP Ramachandra and M A Khan agree to swap Rajya sabha seats
New Delhi: At the drawing of lots on Friday in the presence of Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari, for the 2018 slot when the membership of six members expire, C.M. Ramesh, Anand Bhaskar and P. Govardhan Reddy were allotted to Telangana state, while Renuka Chowdary, K. Chiranjeevi and T. Devender Goud would represent the Seemandhra state. While Mr Ramesh belongs to Seemandhra, Ms Chowdary and Mr Goud come from Telangana.
Likewise, for the 2020 slot when three members’ memberships expire, K. Keshav Rao and Mr M.A. Khan were allotted Seemandhra, while K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao was given to Telangana despite they belonging to the other region.
However, Mr Ramachandra Rao and Mr Khan have agreed to swap their seats. Thus Mr Kesava Rao and Ms Chowdary will remain with Seemaandhra till completion of their terms as both of them are from Telangana and there is no possibility of them swapping their seats.
Minister of state for parliamentary affairs Prakash Javadekar, who was present at the meeting, said the government would bring in an executive order to fulfil the demands made by members like spending their MPLADS in their native states and getting a voting right in municipalities in their own states instead of the state they represent.
“This would safeguard our interest. Though I may represent Seemandhra but I will have no connection with the state. I have made it clear that all my funds would go only to the Telangana state,” Mr Khan told this newspaper.
However, Mr Keshav Rao said he would not be representing Seemandhra and his seat would go to the neighbouring state after his retirement in 2020.
It is also reliably learnt that the Government would also allow MPs to swap their states. For instance, Mr Ramesh and Mr Goud belong to the Telugu Desam and through lottery system they have been allotted different states, but if they wish they can swap their states.
In that case, Mr Keshav Rao and Mr Ramachandra Rao can also swap their states.
RS allotments:
Telangana: V. Hanumantha Rao, Gundu Sudharani (to retire in 2016), C.M. Ramesh, Palvai Govardhana Reddy, Rapolu Anand Bhaskar (to retire in 2018), K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, Garikapati Mohan Rao (to retire in 2020)
Seemandhra: J.D. Seelam, Jairam Ramesh, Nedurumalli Janardhan Reddy (vacant due to death) Y.S. Chowdary (to retire in 2016), K. Chiranjeevi, Renuka chowdary, Devender Gowd (to retire in 2018), Seetha Rama Laxmi, K Kesava Rao, M.A. Khan. T. Subbarami Reddy (to retire in 2020).
