The no-confidence motion moved by the Telugu Desam Party against the one-year-old N Kiran Kumar Reddy government was defeated in the state Legislative Assembly in the wee hours of Tuesday with 122 members voting in its favour and 160 against.
The 17-member Praja Rajyam Party, floated by actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi, and six legislators of Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen came to the rescue of the Congress government, which otherwise could have secured just 136 votes on its own, eight below the half-way mark of 144. The 295-member Assembly currently has a strength of 288.
Despite winning the trust vote, the ruling party received a setback with 16 of its legislators voting in favour of the no-trust move defying the whip. These MLAs, sailing with YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, son of former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) and founder of YSR Congress Party, are now liable for disqualification.
Later, addressing a press conference, Jagan Mohan Reddy said that his supporters stood for values and voted in favour of the no-trust move. He asserted that they were ready to face byelections anytime.
The 16-hour debate on the no-confidence motion in the House was marked by a slanging match between chief minister, Kiran Kumar Reddy, and the Opposition leader, N Chandrababu Naidu, besides the maiden and a poignant speech given by YSR’s widow and MLA, Vijaya.