In a significant development aimed at resolving a protracted constitutional and political deadlock, MLC Jayamangala Venkata Ramana on Monday personally met Legislative Council Chairman Moshenu Raju in his chambers. The meeting marked a fresh and formal appeal by Ramana for the acceptance of his resignation, which has been in a state of limbo for nearly a year.
The Core of the Constitutional Stalemate
Jayamangala Venkata Ramana, elected to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council on a YSRCP ticket in 2023 with a term extending to 2029, chose to step down shortly after the TDP-led NDA alliance returned to power in the state in 2024. Despite tendering his resignation, the council chairman, Moshenu Raju, neither accepted nor rejected it, leaving the matter in procedural uncertainty for almost eleven months.
Frustrated by the prolonged inaction, Venkata Ramana recently approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court, seeking its intervention to direct the chairman to make a decision. The court took a serious view of the unusual delay, observing that keeping an elected member's resignation pending for over 11 months was unacceptable. It subsequently directed Chairman Raju to take a final decision within four weeks and submit a compliance report.
Wider Political Implications and a Queue of Resignations
Sources indicate that Ramana's case is not an isolated one but part of a larger political puzzle. Following the change of regime last year, at least six other MLCs, who were elected as YSRCP nominees before the general elections, also submitted their resignations. However, none of these resignations have been formally accepted by the chairman's office.
This collective impasse has raised pertinent questions about whether the chairman is exercising discretionary powers or adopting a deliberate wait-and-watch approach. The delay has triggered a debate on potential political influences within the council, as the acceptance of multiple resignations would significantly alter the party strength in the upper house.
This factor is seen as particularly sensitive at a time when the new state government is actively reshaping administrative and legislative priorities. The official stance from the chairman's office has remained silent, offering no explanation for withholding the approvals.
The Path Forward After Judicial Intervention
In a swift response to the High Court's order, Chairman Moshenu Raju summoned MLC Venkata Ramana for discussions regarding his resignation. Political observers now believe that the court's clear deadline could finally push this long-pending issue toward a resolution.
The coming weeks are crucial and are expected to reveal whether the chairman will clear the entire queue of pending resignations or choose to maintain the status quo, thereby prolonging the uncertainty in the Legislative Council. The High Court's directive has undoubtedly added legal pressure to a situation laden with political implications.
