A brief five-day Winter session of State Assembly begins here tomorrow and the high voltage publicity of the main opposition TDP planning to move a no-confidence motion seems to be an exercise aimed at exposing the chinks in the Congress and the attitude of TRS and not to just count the strength of the Kiran Kumar government and its supporters.
The 2004 elections were fought between TDP against all others and the 2009 scene was Congress against all others. On both counts, Congress was the winner. In the last polls, TDP lost many seats with PRP in fray and this time around, TDP sees a threat in YSR Congress and wants to consolidate its base in coastal Andhra.
The no confidence motion, if at all TDP moves, will serve the purpose of knowing the actual strength of the ruling party and which party is going with Kiran Kumar Reddy. The exercise can best be described as logging the loyalties as number-wise TDP on its own cannot trounce Congress.
It remains to be seen who will support TDP. But more interesting point will be as to whether all members elected on Congress ticket will vote for the party or not. Should Congress issue a whip, MLAs aligned with YSR Congress will be in trouble and should the group identified as YSR Congress decide to support the government, no confidence become a non-issue.
TRS has already said that it will extend support, if TDP moves the no confidence motion. This brings in two parties with contrasting ideologies together and the same can be said if MLAs going with YS Jagan Mohan Reddy decide to vote in favour of the ruling party.
Any which way, the no confidence motion would stir the hornets’ nest and will be good fodder for hurling allegations against each other. If, for some reason, the Opposition decides not to move the motion, many issues including price rise, minimum support price to farmers, corruption at high places, Obulapuram Mining case will come up for discussion.
The House will sit on Sunday to adopt some important Bills.