Vote makes CM stronger
T, YSR parties lose vote, face
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy emerged stronger after the no-confidence motion moved by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and the YSR Congress against his government in the state Assembly was all set to be defeated on Friday.
In fact, the disunity among the Opposition parties and the no-confidence motion turning a symbolic affair ensured Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy had the upper hand.
While the Telugu Desam’s decision to stay neutral literally took the wind out of the TRS’ and YSRC’s sails, the MIM deciding to abstain only added to their woes.
The TRS, BJP and the YSRC leaders, however, asserted that they were successful in exposing the strong nexus between the ruling Congress and the Telugu Desam while highlighting the burning public issues.
TRS legislator K.T. Rama Rao said that with the TD staying neutral, it has become clear who was the Opposition in the Assembly.
“We are playing the role of a major opposition. It is now clear that the Telugu Desam and the Congress are one. Mr Naidu’s padayatra to ascertain the problems of the people and his so called attempts to expose the Congress government was a fake,” Mr Rama Rao said.
Mr Rama Rao said 45 MLAs who had supported the No-Confidence motion moved by TRS not only indicated their commitment for the public issues and that they are critical of the government’s performance. He also reiterated that their first and last priority was Telangana.
While the TRS moved the No-Trust Motion, the YSRC, the CPI, the Bhartiya Janata Party, the CPM and the Lok Satta backed it and all their strength put together did not cross the 50 votes.
However, the Telangana issue was relegated to the background in the new TRS-YSR Congress combination’s joint attack on the Kiran Kumar Reddy government through the noconfidence motion.
The marathon debate that lasted for more than 12 hours saw a lot of mudslinging, personal attacks rather than meaningful discussions. Both the TD and the Congress dedicated their time to target Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy and his alleged amassing of wealth giving scope to YSRC to claim that both parties were afraid of people giving massive mandate in favour of Mr Jagan in the next elections.
Though the TD criticised that the government failed on all counts it said it stayed away from the motion because the TRS and the YSRC were insincere in fighting against the government. It vowed to bring no trust motion on its own at an appropriate time.
As many as 45 members backed the motion giving room for debate and subsequent voting.