No-confidence motion not yet taken up; political suicide, says TDP

Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha proceedings disrupted for 12th straight day yesterday; Naidu called off dinner for MPs he had planned for today.

Motion of No Confidence : The no-confidence motion notices against the Narendra Modi government, moved by the Telegu Desam Party (TDP) and the Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) for the Centre’s refusal to grant a special category status to Andhra Pradesh could not be taken up in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday amid ruckus in the House.

The TDP termed this as a “political suicide”, accusing the Centre of “running away” from facing a no-confidence motion. Meanwhile, the YSRCP sought its no-confidence motion to be taken up by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday and urged all members to be present for voting.

Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the government would not curtail the ongoing Parliament session and that it was ready to discuss all the issues, including the no-confidence motions.

Lok Sabha proceedings have been marred by a logjam since the start of the second half of the Budget Session, amid disparate state-specific demands by various parties, besides the demand for a special category status to be accorded to Andhra Pradesh. On Tuesday, the House saw its first adjournment within minutes of convening, amid chants of “We want justice” echoing all over. The Rajya Sabha had also been adjourned for the day due to the Opposition’s protests.

Since March 5, when Parliament met after a recess, both Houses have been witnessing disruptions on a daily basis. Amid din, the Finance Bill and the appropriation bills were passed in the Lok Sabha without any discussion.

The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) members have been demanding an increase in the reservation quota for jobs in Telangana, while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) members want the setting up of a Cauvery Management Board.

Several Opposition parties, including the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Samajwadi Party, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Rashtriya Janata Dal have expressed their support to the no-confidence notices.

The government, meanwhile, is not likely to face a major problem in defending the motions, whenever they are taken up: At present, the Lok Sabha has 539 members, of whom more than half, or 273, are from the BJP. The government would to beat the halfway mark of 270 to defend itself. Besides, it also has the support of several allies like the Shiv Sena and the Shiromani Akali Dal.

On Tuesday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh also said amid the din that the government was ready for a discussion on any issue, including on the no-confidence motion.

→ What is No Confidence Motion ←

TDP, YSR Congress no-confidence motions against BJP govt today: 10 points

YSR Congress has written to the Lok Sabha secretariat to put its notice of the motion in the revised list of business for Monday, while TDP has also moved a notice for a no-trust motion.

Latest News : The N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Y S Jaganmohan Reddy-led Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSR Congress Party) on Monday will push their notices of no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government in the Lok Sabha, as they continue their respective agitations for the granting of a special-category status to Andhra Pradesh. The development comes after the TDP quit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and moved a no-confidence motion on Friday, a day after the YSR Congress Party had moved a no-confidence motion against the Modi government. Their notices were not taken up last week because of the din in the House.

YSR Congress Party’s Y V Subba Reddy has written to the Lok Sabha secretariat to put his notice of the motion in the revised list of business for today. The TDP has also moved a notice for a no-confidence motion.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar has said that the TDP and YSR Congress Party’s notices were not taken up last week due to the House not being in order, with members of several parties raising slogans in the Well. However, Monday might not prove very fruitful for the two parties from Andhra Pradesh as the Lok Sabha will meet today amid no signs of a let-up in the deadlock in the House’s proceedings. It remains uncertain if order will be restored in the Lok Sabha today with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi protesting over a host of issues.

The proceedings in Parliament were washed out for the second consecutive week on Friday due to protests by Opposition parties.

Both the parties from Andhra Pradesh have been protesting and agitating as the Centre has refused to grant the state a special-category status. The political tussle in the state and at the national level saw the TDP and the BJP engage in an escalating and heated exchange, which culminated in the end of their alliance. Both parties have been lobbying with opposition parties for support to their respective notices.

However, even if the no-confidence motions are admitted, the Modi government has expressed confidence that they will be defeated given its strength in the Lok Sabha.

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