The high court today heard the arguments of senior counsel Mr Ramachandra Rao on behalf of former TDP leader and MLA Mr Venugopalachari who filed petition alleging that the chief minister Kirankumar reddy has lost eligibility to continue in the post as his government has slipped into minority.

The court adjourned further hearing on the petition by a week till Nov 9.

Counsel argued that the congress government had original strength of 156 MLAs but later the number went up to 159 as three MLAs joined it. It again went up to 175 following the merger of the PRP with the congress.

“However, the number came down to 147 as 26 congress MLAs and two ministers resigned from the party,” said Ramachandra Rao arguing on behalf of the petitioner.

Counsel said that the numbers again came down to 143 three days ago when three MLAs quit the congress party and one MLA died all of a sudden pushing the congress government into minority.