Speaker gives nod for No Trust Motion discussion

Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar on Saturday agreed to take up discussion on the No Confidence Motion moved by Telugu Desam Party against the government. The decision was taken after Opposition Leader N Chandrababu Naidu moved the motion in the House and was supported by 76 members belonging to the TDP, TRS, CPI, BJP and CPM.

However, the decision was preceded by uproarious scenes and din for third consecutive day leading to adjournment of House twice. Later, the Speaker called for the meeting of floor leaders to end the impasse.

As soon as the House met on Saturday at 9 am, TDP and TRS members rushed to the podium demanding that the No Confidence Motions submitted by them be taken up for discussion. The opposition members resorted to slogans shouting which led to adjournment of the House for 15 minutes at 9.06 am. The uproar and din continued when the House reassembled at 10.08. Again the Speaker adjourned the House at 10.13 am for half-an-hour.

The Speaker then held at meeting of floor leaders to finalise the agenda. Assembly Marshal were deployed around the Speaker's podium when the session resumed at 12.36 pm. However, the TRS members rushed to the well holding placards demanding Telangana resolution in the House. The TDP members resumed slogan shouting demanding acceptance of No Confidence Motion while standing near their seats.

Following Speaker's request for cooperation to pass the condolence motion for six former MLAs, the opposition members resumed their seats. After passing the condolence motion, the House observed two minutes silence as a mark of respect for the deceased MLAs. The Speaker then read out a resolution condemning the attack on MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi. However, he rejected MIM MLA Ahmed Balala's demand for discussion on the issue. The Speaker said that the House has unanimously condemned the attack and wished him a speedy recovery. Legislative Affairs Minister D Sreedhar Babu also condemned the attack saying that there was no place for violence in democracy.

The Speaker then allowed Roads and Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasad to speak. Admitting that the State has been experiencing severe drought, the Minister said that during the Business Advisory Committee's meeting all parties have agreed for discussions on the drought situation. Asking the TRS members to cooperate with the House, he said even Telangana region has been facing severe drought and therefore, they must allow discussion on the drought situation. Regarding Telangana, he said that the issue was pending with the Centre and the consultation process to resolve the issue was on.

Later, the Speaker informed the House that he was in receipt of two notices of No Confidence Motion submitted by Chandrababu Naidu and Etela Rajender. He then asked Naidu to move the motion. While Naidu started reading the motion, all TRS left the House. However, when the Speaker asked for headcount of MLAs who are in favour of discussions on the motion, the TRS returned to the House.

As the motion was supported by 76 MLAs, the Speaker announced that it would be taken up discussion. However, the BAC would decide the time for discussion and voting.