27 first-timers set to take oath as MLAs

Twenty-seven MLAs, elected in the December elections to the 119-member Assembly, will enter as first-timers when the House meets on January 17 for the oath-taking ceremony of the new members.

Of these, 23 are absolute newcomers to the legislature while Ch Malla Reddy and Balka Suman of the TRS were former MPs, Patnam Narender Reddy of the TRS and Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy of the Congress were former MLCs.

In all, 77 members, including the nominated MLA representing the Anglo-Indian community, Elvis Stephenson, are making a return to the new House having been members in the last Assembly.

While Chandrashekhar Rao has the honour of being the most experienced MLA in the Assembly returning to the House for the eight time, he is followed closely behind by Mumtaz Ahmed Khan and the TRS’ Redya Naik and Errabelli Dayakar Rao who will mark their sixth stint as MLAs when they take the oath.

With respect to age, Vanama Venkateswar Rao of the Congress will be the oldest member at 73, followed by Alampur MLA VM Abraham at 72 and Mumtaz Ahmed Khan at 70. The youngest MLA in the new House will be Haripriya Banoth of the Congress at 33 years with her fellow party member Rohit Reddy following her at 34, while the third youngest will be Balka Suman at 35.