HYDERABAD: Although unfazed by the Telugu Desam Party's move to table a no confidence motion, the Congress party is assessing the number of party MLAs likely to sail with Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy's YSR Congress Party.
Numbers adequate
With 155 party legislators, the Congress strongly believes that the 18 Praja Rajyam MLAs (one among them Ms. Shobha Nagi Reddy is sailing with Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy), seven from the MIM, three associate Congress members would come to its rescue even if some ruling party members switched sides.
They feel that no-confidence motion would put the YSR Congress Party chief in a spot as he had been repeatedly claiming that the Kiran Kumar Reddy government was surviving at his mercy. “He has to prove that he enjoys the support of majority Congress legislators,” a former Minister observed.
Though initial figure of rebels moving to the Jagan camp was estimated to be 28, it had come down in the last few months. They point out that the presence of only 10 MLAs at the Central Governing Council meeting of the YSR Congress Party earlier this week only proved that Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy was not in a position to garner the requisite numbers to topple the government.
A senior MLA pointed out that the fear of getting disqualified would weigh heavily on the minds of the rebels. “Only 8-10 hardcore MLAs may take the risk of losing their membership. But, others will think twice before they defy the whip as they have close to three years term,” the MLA remarked.
On the TDP's move, Transport Minister Botcha Satyanarayana went on record welcoming it and said the government had the strength to come out in flying colours. Sources said the government has dropped its earlier proposal to seek a vote of confidence motion in wake of the TDP gearing up to move a no-trust motion.
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