Maverick Telugu Desam Party MP from Anantapur J C Diwakar Reddy’s revolt against the party by declaring that he would not travel to New Delhi and participate in the ongoing Parliament session, let alone taking part in the discussion on no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government, has landed the TDP leadership in a tricky situation.
Diwakar Reddy told the media that there was no point in attending the Parliament session when the political atmosphere in the country was not good.
“There is a clash between the state government and the Centre over injustice to Andhra Pradesh. There is no response from the Centre. There will be no change in the attitude of the Centre even after the no-confidence motion which would anyway be defeated,” he said.
Now, the question is whether the whip issued by the TDP will not be applicable to Diwakar Reddy.
On Wednesday itself, TDP whip Konakalla Narayana Rao issued a three-line whip asking all the party MPs to attend the Lok Sabha session on Friday and take part in the discussion on no-trust motion. As per the rules, violation of whip might result in disqualification of a member of the party.
But Diwakar Reddy cares a damn for the whip.
“You may come to your own conclusions, but I am not going to attend the entire session of Parliament.”
If TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu ignores Diwakar Reddy and does not take any action against him, it would send wrong signals to the party cadre and the so-called disciplined party would stand exposed.
The opposition will definitely question Naidu’s incompetence. At the same time, he cannot dare disqualify a powerful leader like Diwakar Reddy.
So, party sources said, Naidu is trying to pacify Diwakar Reddy and convince him to attend the Parliament session at least on Friday to mark his presence.
May be he will oblige if Naidu makes the request.
