TDP quits NDA, moves its own no-trust motion

NEW DELHI: Triggering a day of intense political developments, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) pulled out of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Friday morning over its unmet demand for special category status for Andhra Pradesh. It also gave notice of a no-confidence motion against the government in the Lok Sabha.

The TDP’s political rival in Andhra Pradesh, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), had on Thursday evening given notice of a no-confidence motion to the Speaker’s office over the same issue. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, however, did not admit either notice, citing lack of “order”, with the house getting adjourned until Monday.

The N Chandrababu Naiduled TDP’s withdrawal energised the opposition, with several political parties saying they would support the party’s motion. The government is sceptical that the motion would get to the stage of being admitted at all, but is confident that even if it does, it has the numbers for a comfortable victory. The BJP on its own has 274 members in the 539-strong House.

Shortly after noon, speaker Mahajan announced that she had received separate notices of the motions from lawmakers YV Subbareddy (Leader in the Lok Sabha of the YSRCP) and Thota Narasimham of the TDP.

“We go according to principles. Our leader felt being part of NDA and moving a no-confidence motion would not be ethical. So we withdrew from the NDA and I have issued a letter on no-confidence motion to the Speaker at 9.30 am,” Narasimham, the TDP’s floor leader in the Lok Sabha, told reporters shortly after submitting the notice to the speaker.

The no-confidence motion notice requires the support of 50 MPs in the house.

Leaders from the Congress hinted they would support the motion against the government.