Hyderabad, Jun 2: Political temperature in Andhra Pradesh suddenly shot up today with the principal Opposition TDP announcing plans to move a no-confidence motion against the Congress Government, which is already grappling with the contentious Telangana statehood demand and dissidence.
As the Budget session resumes on June 4, the TDP led by its chief N Chandrababu Naidu will move a no-confidence motion against the Kiran Kumar Reddy government on problems faced by farmers in the state.
Though the TDP does not have enough numbers to pull down the Congress Government, its objective in moving the no-trust motion appears to be part of its strategy to regain the lost ground, particularly in the wake of the Telangana statehood struggle, and also “expose” YSR Congress president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, political observers feel. Parties like TRS and BJP have made it clear that they would support a no-confidence motion against the Government brought by anyone.
With its own strength of 90 MLAs, the TDP can muster support of 11 TRS, four CPI, two BJP and one CPM taking the total to 111 in the 294-member Assembly.
The Congress, on the other hand, has a strength of 154 MLAs of its own and can count on the support of 17 Praja Rajyam and seven Majlis legislators besides three “associate” members.
The lone Lok Satta MLA is expected to remain neutral.
The YSR Congress officially has only one MLA in the AP Assembly though about a dozen Congress, two TDP MLA and one of PRP are backing him in violation of their respective parties.
Besides moving the no-confidence motion against the government, the TDP is also contemplating to field its candidate in the election for the Assembly Speaker's post. While TRS Legislature Party leader E Rajender announced that his party would support a no-confidence motion moved by any party, BJP state president G Kishan Reddy said they too would extend their support.
“We will support any no-confidence motion against the Congress government even if it is moved by the TDP,” Kishan told PTI.
The Budget session of the Assembly that was adjourned sine die was not prorogued by the Governor so far in view the pending election for the Speaker's post, official source said. Hence the House could be re-convened to take even the no-confidence motion, the sources added.
The TDP's main objective—apart from cornering the government on the farmers' issues through a debate on the no-trust motion—is to “expose” the real strength of Jagan who has been claiming that the Kiran Kumar government was surviving solely at his mercy.
In fact, it was Jagan who first challenged Naidu to move a no-confidence motion against the government. But when the TDP chief announced his party would move the motion and dared Jagan to parade the MLAs supporting him before the Governor, the MP-elect virtually conceded defeat saying he did not have adequate numbers on his side.
The TDP may eventually face defeat on the no-confidence but it will succeed in exposing Jagan who has been crying hoarse over a “match-fixing deal” between the ruling party and the main opposition.
It will also be a reality check for Jagan who has set his sight on the state Chief Minister's post, political observers say. PTI
