D K Aruna Submits HC Order Of Her Election To Assembly Secretary

BJP leader D K Aruna on Tuesday went to the State Assembly. As the Speaker was not available, she met the Legislature Secretary Narasimha Charyulu and appealed to him to recognise her as the Gadwal MLA.

She handed over a copy of the High Court verdict and the Central Election Commission's order to him during the meeting.

Recently, the High Court had disqualified the ruling BRS' MLA Krishna Mohan Reddy, represnting the constituency, and declared Aruna as its MLA. The Election Commission of India (ECI) too asked the CEO of the State to issue a gazette notification recognising Aruna as an MLA. Orders to this effect have reportedly been sent to the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj, the Chief Secretary and the Legislature Secretary.

In the 2018 assembly elections, Aruna, then a Congress candidate, and Krishna Mohan Reddy of the BRS had contested from Gadwal. Reddy was declared elected in the elections. However, Aruna approached the High Court alleging that Reddy had filed an affidavit with false details during the nomination process.

Reddy's election was declared null and void by the High Court in August 2023. Following this, the Central Election Commission issued a notification confirming the election of Aruna. A copy of the High Court verdict was also attached to it. The ECI also cited the court's observation that she should be treated as an MLA with effect from December 12, 2018.