Naidu asks Centre to withdraw amendment to RPA

Hyderabad: Terming the proposed Representation of the People (Amendment and Validation) Ordinance as "blatantly shameless", Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Thursday demanded that the Centre withdraws the move.

"The Union Cabinet approved the ordinance to rescue convicted MPs and MLAs. It is blatantly shameless - a trademark Congress move. We demand annulment of the ordinance," TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu said.

On July 10 this year, the Supreme Court held that chargesheeted MPs and MLAs on conviction for offences, would be immediately disqualified from holding membership of the House.

The apex court struck down as unconstitutional, Section 8 (4) of the Representation of People Act that allowed convicted lawmakers a three-month period to file an appeal in a higher court to get a stay on the conviction and sentence.

Seeking to grant immunity to such convicted MPs and MLAs, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved an ordinance to amend the Representation of People Act.

The ordinance is yet to be signed by the President of India.