UPA seeks to fend off no-confidence motion in LS

TDP, YSR Congress have moved notices for no-confidence motion against the government

The United Progressive Alliance government would have to contend with the spectre of a no-confidence motion against the government in the Lok Sabha. Parties opposed to a separate Telangana state, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), six disgruntled Seemandhra Congress members of Parliament (MPs) and Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress, have moved notices for a no-confidence motion against the government.

While both the TDP (which claims it has the backing of 84 MPs) and YSR Congress claim they will manage to get the motion moved, Congress floor managers are confident these parties won’t manage to cobble up the support of 50 MPs, required to table the motion.

Amid the embittered Samajwadi Party, angry at the Congress’s insistence on passing the Lok Pal Bill, there is talk of support for such a no-confidence motion against the creation of Telangana. However, party leader Naresh Aggarwal confirmed it had not signed the motion yet.

As of now, 13 anti-Telangana MPs (six from the Congress, four from TDP and three from the YSR Congress) have signed the motion. Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has already publicly stated the party would take disciplinary action against the Congress MPs who moved a motion against the government. The Congress is also taking heart from the fact, should such a motion even be accepted, the Opposition would not be seen siding up with the casue for a united Andhra, as it had already congratulated the setting up of a separate Telangana. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has made clear she would prefer an adjournment motion, not a no-confidence motion as the UPA does not enjoy popular mandate.

Naresh Aggarwal speaking to Business Standard said, “This government lacks legitimacy. It must go in to seek a fresh mandate.” However, he refused to respond to why SP continued to support the UPA from outside and did not pull out its support.

“We will decide on such things when the time comes,” he said.