TDP quits NDA; Chandrababu Naidu to support YSRC’s no-confidence motion

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Friday pulled his Telugu Desam Party out of the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, after a reportedly unanimous decision by the party leadership. TDP has also backed arch rival in AP Jaganmohan Reddy-led YSR Congress’ no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government. TDP MP Thota Narasimham told PTI that his party will also support the motion.

The YSR Congress on Thursday had given notice for moving a no-confidence motion against the BJP-led NDA government, following the Centre's refusal to grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh. The BJP has accused regional parties in Andhra Pradesh of playing "politics of victimhood" and claimed that the central government had already given a lot of benefits to the state and was willing to do more.

YSRC MP YV Subba Reddy gave the notice to the Lok Sabha secretariat for including the motion in Friday’s list of business, his office said. However, sources said the YSR Congress notice was given for March 21, next week.

The motion can be accepted only if it has the support of at least 50 members in the House. YSR Congress has nine MPs in the Lok Sabha; TDP has 16. Jaganmohan Reddy has reportedly written to leaders of various parties seeking their support for the motion. In the letter, he has asserted that if the Centre remains reluctant to grant the special category status to the state then all MPs of his party will resign on April 6.

With the BJP having 273 members plus the Speaker in the Lok Sabha and enjoying support of remaining NDA allies, the no-confidence motion, if accepted, is certain to be defeated but has the potential to put the saffron party in a tight corner in Andhra Pradesh. If accepted, it would also be the first no-confidence motion moved against the Modi-government.

The TDP had withdrawn its ministers from the government on March 7, after the Centre made it clear that it cannot grant special status to Andhra Pradesh.

One week later, the TDP’s decision to quit the NDA and support the YSRC motion is being seen as Naidu’s strategy to deny Jaganmohan Reddy a political plank in the state, in which Assembly polls are due to be held along with the Lok Sabha elections next year.

With agency inputs.