Despite various claims and counter claims, there has been lots of confusion as to who stands where on the Seemandhra issue.
However, the no-confidence motion has given some clear indications as to who is in the CM’s camp and who is with the High Command.
The fact that the number of Congress MPs who moved the no confidence motion was limited to six is giving some solace to the Congress High Command.
All union ministers from Seemandhra and Congress MPs have reiterated their commitment to the Samaikyandhra cause.
However, at the same time, they have also maintained that if bifurcation becomes inevitable, then the Central government should dole out a good package to the Samaikyandhra region. Their other demands include making Hyderabad a UT and inclusion of Bhadrachalam in Seemandhra.
For the Congress government that is reeling from the shock of losing out in four states, the no confidence motion by Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal opposing the creation of Telangana has come as a jolt.
Though it may not do much damage to the party as the number is limited to six, the situation would have been different if all the Congress MPs from Seemandhra signed on the motion.
Similarly, had all the Seemandhra MPs supported the motion, it would have put the Congress government in a rather vulnerable position.
Now, let’s look at the people who refrained from supporting the motion.
First, let’s consider the case of Ananta Venkatrami Reddy who did not sign the no confidence motion. As JC Diwaker Reddy seems to be towing the line of Chief Minsiter Kiran Kumar Reddy at the state level, both Ananta and state minister Raghuveera Reddy seem to have opposed the move.
Similarly, from among the union ministers Kishore Chandradev, Pallamraju, Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, Krupa Rani, Purandareswari, Panabaka Lakshmi, Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy – all of them refrained from signing the motion. Even if some of them or at least one of them had signed the motion, it would have created quite a stir.
Coming to Botsa Jhansi, it was only expected that she would not sign the motion as she is wife of PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana.
In the case of MP Kanumuri Bapiraju, he is presently the TTD chairman. And the post was allocated to him due to the goodwill he enjoys with Sonia Gandhi. Also, he has always been a staunch party loyalist and would have seen no reason in turning against it now.
Coming to Tirupati MP Chinta Mohan, he was always in the good books of the High Command. Ongole MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy too has shown his allegiance to the High Command.
Out of the 25 MPs, barring the six who moved the motion, all the MPs belong to the Congress party, out of whom 7 are presently union ministers. One of them is Nandyala MP SPY Reddy who moved to YSR Congress. From the remaining 11, six MPs have revolted against the party, leaving out five.
One among the six is Sabbam Hari, who in the past, went to YSR Congress and returned to the Congress fold.
Now, it is clear that six MPs are in tandem with Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy who is supporting the revolt.
The others are surely against the motion.
Finally, there is some clarity as to who belongs to the High Command’s camp and who belongs to the CM’s camp.
On the other hand, union ministers and Rajya Sabha members Chiranjeevi and JD Seelam have clearly spelt out their loyalty to the High Command.
For now, this is how the situation stands.
