Date:28/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/28/stories/2008082850020100.htm

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Telugu Desam moves no trust motion against Speaker

Special Correspondent

— Photo: Mohd Yousuf

DOCUMENT OF PROTEST: Telugu Desam leader N. Janardhan Reddy giving notice of no confidence motion against Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy to the Assembly Secretary K. Tuljanand Singh in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

HYDERABAD: Assured of support from the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, the Telugu Desam on Wednesday submitted a notice expressing lack of confidence in Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy.

The no trust motion signed by several TDP MLAs is reported to be the first of its kind against the Speaker. The party charged the Speaker with “failing to maintain the dignity and decorum of the House and to be impartial in conducting the business.”

Given the stipulation that the motion required the support of at least 50 members, if it is to be admitted for discussion, it is clear that TDP has shed its ideological differences with the TRS while taking its support. The TDP’s strength is now 46, while that of TRS, seven, just enough to embarrass the Speaker and the ruling party.

Deal struck?

The two parties seemed to have struck a deal on sharing the support. In return for the TRS’ support, the TDP could extend help to the former for its no trust motion proposed to be moved against the presiding officer in a day or two. This also requires the support of 50 members. For some time now the TRS has been nursing a grudge against the Speaker, charging him with sitting over their petition seeking disqualification of the 10 party rebels. The Speaker did not show the same alacrity in this case, compared with the breach of privilege proceedings that were initiated against TDP member Karanam Balaramakrishnamurthy.

The notice was submitted by TDP’s deputy floor leader N. Janardhan Reddy and others after the leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrababu Naidu, called on Mr. Balaram, who dramatically began his ‘indefinite’ fast in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue on the Assembly premises.

Naidu’s assurance

He called off his fast three hours later, after Mr. Naidu gave an assurance that the party was behind him and would fight it out politically and take the struggle to the people.