The Modi Government faced its first no-confidence motion on Friday when the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the YSR Congress Party, both bitter rivals from Andhra Pradesh, moved separate motion in the lok Sabha.
As in the competitive regional politics of Andhra Pradesh, the YSR Congress of Jaganmohan Reddy took an early lead in giving notice for the no-confidence motion against the BJP-led Government at the Centre. Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP on Friday formally walked out of the NDA and followed it by moving its own no-confidence motion. The TDP was unwilling to back the motion moved by the YSR Congress.
TDP MP CM Ramesh alleged that YSR Congress MP Vijaysai Reddy was seen making attempts to meet the Prime Minister and this hinted at a nexus between both parties.
“We have no confidence in their no-confidence motion, so we have decided to go on our own,” he said.
The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) led by K Chandrasekhar Rao ruled out its support for the no-confidence motion against the NDA Government, describing the move as a “political gimmick”.
TRS parliamentary party leader and secretary general K Keshava Rao, however, said his outfit supports the demand for Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh.
The notices for the no-confidence motions were not taken up as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan cited lack of order in the House and adjourned the proceedings for the day amid vociferous protests over various issues.
The no-confidence notices were moved by YSR Congress member YV Subba Reddy and TDP’s Thota Narasimham.
While MPs belonging to the TDP, the YSR Congress and the Congress remained standing around their respective seats, the proceedings were disrupted by members of the TRS and the AIADMK who trooped into the well of the House and shouted slogans.
The Speaker said she was duty bound to take no-confidence motion provided there is order in the House. Stating this soon after papers and reports were laid during the Zero Hours, Mahajan adjourned the House for the day. This was for the 10th consecutive day the proceedings were a washout.
While the Opposition felt that the MPs of the TRS and the AIADMK caused disruption at the behest of the BJP to derail the no-trust motion, BJP leaders said the Government has complete majority in the House and dismissed no-confidence motion as of no consequence.
The Shiv Sena, the disgruntled BJP ally, has, however remained taciturn.
The Sena in an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana termed the BJP’s loss in the Gorakhpur lok Sabha bypoll a “defeat of ego and arrogance” and launched a fresh salvo at its ally, saying the party’s strength in the lower House of Parliament will come down by at least 110 seats in the 2019 general elections.
The Sena also taunted its ally saying those who abandon their friends and “tread the path of lies” are destined to lose.
The BJP-led Government has a comfortable majority in the lok Sabha having the support of around 315 members and on its own has 274 -- well above the current halfway mark of 270. The BJP has around 41 MPs from allies.
While announcing separation from the NDA after four years alliance with it, Andhra CMIJChandrababu Naidu said he made the decision to quit the NDAIJto protect the interests of the State. “We’ve quit NDA. I took the decision, not for selfish reasons, but for interests of AP. For four years I made all efforts, went to Delhi 29 times, asked many times. This was the Centre’s last Budget and there was no mention of AP, we had to pull our Ministers out of the Cabinet,” Naidu said in the Andhra Assembly.
“TDP has survived many crises and we can sail through this situation. I wrote many letters to the Centre. Recently also I gave a letter to the PM but nothing materialized. Arun Jaitley said sentiment cannot increase quantum of funds. What a reckless statement. Telangana was carved for sentiment. Sentiment is very powerful. Even now you are doing injustice,” said the Chief Minister hitting out at the Centre.
While the Congress, CPM, AIADMK, AIMIM and the AAP on Friday announced to support the no-trust motion against the NDA Government; the TMC and in all likelihood will follow the suit and also support the motion moved by the TDP and the YSR Congress Party, source said. Congress sources said that it is also in talks with other parties like the NCP, RJD, SP and BJD as well.
leader of the Congress in the lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said when no-confidence motion is moved we need to talk about Government’s failures and hence the party is contacting a lot of people. “Since the party has been supporting special-category status for Andhra Pradesh since the beginning. We want that people of Andhra get justice and the no-confidence motion is justified,” Kharge said outside Parliament. Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president N Raghuveera Reddy too announced the Congress would support the no-confidence motion against the Centre by the TDP and the YSR Congress Party.
The support of several Opposition parties for the no-trust motion means it will be more than comfortably accepted as it will have the support of at least 50 MPs, which is a minimum requirement. The no-trust move will be the first such move during the tenure of the Modi Government which came with a thumping majority in 2014 with BJP itself winning 282 seats.
While the Congress has 48 MPs, the AIADMK has 37 followed by the TDP with 16 and the YSR Congress and the CPI(M) nine each MPs. The AIMIM has one MP. “CPI(M) supports the no-confidence motion being brought against the BJP Government. Its betrayal of the promise of special status for Andhra Pradesh is inexcuseable. Its all-round failure and evasion of parliamentary accountability needs to be highlighted,” CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said.
Speaking to the media, Congress member in the lok Sabha Shashi Tharoor said: “When a no-confidence motion is moved, 50 MPs should stand in its support... 50 MPs stood, but the Speaker said it cannot be considered as House is not in order. So, I want to ask what does the Government fearIJ They have huge majority in the lok Sabha.”