Speaker Nadendla Manohar is likely to disqualify 17 rebel MLAs from the assembly by Feb 9. Among the 17 to be disqualified for defying the whip during the voting on no-confidence motion, 16 are from the congress and one MLA Ms Sobha Nagireddy is from the former Praja Rajyam.

Manohar on Thursday completed the formalities of recording the statements of the whips of the congress and PRP with regard to two MLAs. However, Sobha Nagi Reddy representing Allagadda and Kapu Ramachandra Reddy of the Congress representing Rayadurgam were not present.

As the MLAs didn’t turn up, the Speaker has no alternative except for going by the versions of the party whips in these two cases. In the remaining cases, Manohar completed the formalities on Jan 30.

Kapu Ramachandra Reddy’s lawyer tried to meet the Speaker on Thursday but Manohar didn’t allow him inside as the MLA himself didn’t attend twice in the past.

The congress legislators who defied the whip voted for the no-confidence motion on Dec 5 openly declaring their loyalty to the YSR Congress party chief YS Jaganmohan reddy. “There is no choice for the speaker now. The axe will fall on all of them,” said a legal expert.

Meanwhile, congress party sources said Manohar will deliver his judgment on Feb 9. (JUBS)