Jagan cornered as CM seeks to set house in order

HYDERABAD: The mercury in political circles shot up on Thursday with Governor ESL Narasimhan convening a special session of the Assembly on Saturday for the election of the Speaker. The TDP, not one to lose an opportunity, promptly submitted a notice for a no-confidence motion against the Kiran Kumar Reddy government.But it is doubtful if the TDP’s notice will come up in the House due to technical reasons. Aware of this possible hitch, the party is said to be planning to put up a candidate, most likely former minister KE Krishna Murthy, for the Speaker’s post. In such a case, the election of the Speaker itself will become a no-confidence motion against the government.The government’s move in calling the special session and the quick reaction of the TDP appear to have caught YSR chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s camp clearly off guard. Jagan has been taunting TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu to move a no-confidence motion for a long time now but the way the latter has responded in the most unexpected fashion has left the young MP with little time to muster enough support to topple the government.The Jagan campers seem to be caught in a cleft-stick, second-guessing what Naidu is up to after he said his intention behind the no-trust move was not to bring down the government but only to draw its attention to the problems confronting the people. The day began with the Governor issuing a notification convening the Assembly and Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar submitting his resignation so as to file his nomination papers on Friday for the Speaker’s post. Chief Whip Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who represents Madhira in Khammam district, is tipped to be Manohar’s deputy.Soon after, TDP leaders went into a huddle and sent a delegation to the Assembly where they submitted the notice for no-confidence motion.Sources in the Assembly said for the House to take up a no-confidence motion, it should be in session for at least 10 days. Since the special session is exclusively for the election of the Speaker, it is unlikely that it would be taken up.If it’s ignored, the TDP may fall back upon its Plan B -- which is to contest for the Speaker’s post. If the election does take place, Jagan has to direct his MLAs to vote against the Congress nominee. In other words, in favour of the TDP candidate! If any Congress MLA votes for the TDP, he faces the risk of disqualification. More importantly, such a move will bring out the real strength of Jagan as far his influence on MLAs is considered.Congress leader JC Diwakar Reddy will act as Protem Speaker to conduct the election of the Speaker. In the evening the same day, A Chakrapani is expected to be elected as Chairman of the Legislative Council.In the 294-member Assembly, one seat is vacant after TDP MLA Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy had resigned.Among the remaining MLAs, the Congress has 155, the TDP 90 (including three rebels), PRP 18 (including one rebel) and MIM seven.