Though it was expected that Speaker Nadendla Manohar

would pronounce his verdict on the MLAs' disqualification

prior to the commencement of the Budget session, it did not happen.

Informed sources said that the Speaker was willing to give a fresh chance to the rebel MLAs to present their case

individually on the disqualification proceedings.

The 17 MLAs, owing allegiance to YSR Congress party of

Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, did not appear before the Speaker to present their version on the disqualification issue despite repeated notices by Manohar.

Violating the whips of their respective parties, they had

voted against the Kiran Kumar Reddy government on the

no-confidence motion on December 5.

All the 17 MLAs appeared before the Speaker en masse only once. However, the Speaker wanted to strictly go by rules and procedures and asked the MLAs to appear before him individually.

The Jagan-loyalists, however, remained defiant and maintained that they need not heed the Speaker's advice.

The lone PRP MLA B Sobha Nagi Reddy also tendered her

resignation and wanted the Speaker to either disqualify her or accept the resignation.

Accordingly, everyone expected the Speaker to take an

ex-parte decision on the disqualification issue before the

start of the Budget session.

But the tale took a curious twist when some of the 17 MLAs reportedly complained to the Speaker that they were

"prevented" from appearing before him and present their case, the sources said.

Following this, the Speaker is said to have decided not to

take any decision on the disqualification issue in haste.