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The political situation in Andhra Pradesh threatens to once again slide into a crisis. About 26 Cong (I) legislators loyal to Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, today put in their papers, giving jitters to the Kiran Kumar Reddy led-ruling Cong(I) Government.
For the moment, the Government continues to enjoy more than the required simple majority in the 294-member AP Legislative Assembly. Its strength being boosted by the actor-turned politician, Mr Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), merging with its 17 MLAs.
The formal merger affected on August 20, 2011 (birthday of later PM Mr Rajiv Gandhi), in New Delhi bolstered the Cong(I) numbers from 155 to about 182 in the house. The Cong(I) could also fall back on the support of the Majlees-Ithehadul-Muslimeen (MIM), which has 7 MLAs.
The number game becomes dicey, when you consider the fact that two rebel MLAs from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and another from PRP have already quit.
The fresh round of crisis for the ruling dispensation comes from the quitting of Jagan’s loyalists, who alleged that the Government was targeting the son of late chief minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy through CBI raids and was also maligning the name of YSR.
At another end, the resignations of nearly 100 MLAs from the Cong(I), TDP and Telangana Rastra Samithi (TRS) demanding a quick creation of a separate Telangana State are pending with the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Nadendla Manohar.
Earlier in the day, members of the YSR Congress congregated at the statue of the late CM near Punjagutta and also at the Raj Bhavan. The spokesperson of the Party, Mr P. Subhashchandra Bose said the continuos targeting of their leader Mr Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, MP from Kadapa through raids by the CBI on politicians and companies associated was politically motivated. Similarly, they were upset with the dragging of the name of YSR by the Government into the controversy.
He claimed that more legislators from the cong(I) would quit soon. Already two MPs have also put in their papers. Among the 26 who quit, included three from the Telangana region---Ms Jayasudha, Ms Konda Surekha and Satyavathi (who have already quit on the issue of separate statehood for Telangana a few weeks ago).
Meanwhile, the PRP leader, Mr Chiranjeevi returned to the State capital to a rousing welcome from his party members and Cong(I) supporters, who cheered him on the occasion of his birthday. On the other hand the APCC(I) chief, Mr Botsa Satyanarayana urged those who quit to reconsider their decision.
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