Hyderabad, April 09: Fearing an adverse impact on its poll prospects, the Congress high command appears not ready to take disciplinary action against MLAs who are extending support to former MP Jagan Mohan Reddy till the completion of the by-elections in the Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula Assembly constituencies on May 8.
It, however, intends to take a firm action specifically for disqualifying them as MLA in case they campaign against the party’s official candidate.
It is learnt that the party leadership is of the view that taking action (either dismissal or suspension) against the rebel MLAs (numbering about 20) before by-elections may give an opportunity to the latter to gain sympathy during electioneering.
Though there is tremendous pressure from the state Congress leaders, particularly those hailing from Kadapa district, the leadership is not ready to take immediate action against the rebels. It is not ready even to take action against the hardcore pro-Jagan MLAs numbering a dozen.
The party, which has a strength of 155 MLAs plus three associate members in the Assembly, has failed to take any action against the rebels fearing that the government would fall into a minority. Now, it has gained confidence after merger of Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam with the Congress. The party’s strength with support from friendly parties goes up to 181 (155 Congress + 3 independents + 16 PRP + 7 MIM).
It is now confident that the pro-Jagan MLAs pose no danger to the stability of the government in the face of disciplinary action.
The Congress leadership is also of the view that pro- Jagan MLAs, including five from Kadapa district, might campaign for Jagan and his mother Vijayamma at the elections.
If that happens, the leadership will approach the deputy speaker seeking disqualification of the rebel MLAs in accordance with the Anti- Defection Law.
–Agencies