YSR Cong moots a noconfidence vote in Lok Sabha

Party raises pitch on Andhra special status; TDP will support motion, Congress yet to decide

NEWDELHI/HYDERABAD: For the first time in its term, the Narendra Modi government may face a no-confidence motion on the floor of the House.

Andhra Pradesh’s YSR Congress Party led by Jagan Mohan Reddy, has given a notice to move a no-confidence motion against the government in the Lok Sabha over the issue of not giving the so-called “special category” status to his state. But before any vote takes place, the notice needs the support of 50 MPS ‘in an orderly house’. It is not clear the notice will get that.

With a comfortable majority in the house, the government is safe and will cruise through, even if the motion is admitted. The move is however expected to hasten the exit of The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which pulled its ministers out of the Bharatiya Janata Party led government, from National Democratic Alliance. The YSRCP has nine MPS, but four have defected, leaving it with an effective strength of five; the TDP, which has 16 MPS, said it will support the motion that purportedly has the state’s best interests in mind.

YSRCP MP YV Subba Reddy submitted a notice with the Lok Sabha secretariat, desiring to move a no confidence motion on Friday. Reddy has also written a letter seeking support from all non-nda parties. The party initially planned to the motion on March 21, but advanced it amid apprehension that Parliament might adjourn sine die early in the wake of disruptions.

It has also suggested that its MPS will quit from Lok Sabha at the end of the session if the demands are not met.