Cong petitions Guv on TRS 'encouraging' defections of its MLAs

Congress Saturday petitioned the state Governor over the ruling TRS in Telangana allegedly encouraging defections of its MLAs and said it would also complain to the Lokpal on the matter.

"We request you to send the copy of our representation to the President of India and Union Ministry to impose President's rule by invoking Article 356 of the Constitution of India," the memorandum said.

Copies of the memorandum were later shared with the media.

"...Lok Pal has been constituted. This was an act passed by the UPA-2 government and I was the law minister to draft this... this will be the first complaint to be lodged there," senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily told reporters here.

The Congress' ire came in the wake of nine of its MLAs announcing their decision to quit the party and support TRS. Many among them said they would quit as MLAs and seek re-election, if necessary.

The party had won 19 seats (out of total 119) in the Assembly elections in December last year and the