The budget session of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and Council will begin here on Wednesday with a high voltage theatrics on cards as the talk of no-confidence motion looms large even as the ruling Congress is putting up a brave face saying that it would take on any eventuality.
The intrigue of arithmetic is always evasive with the number game oscillating quicker than one can imagine and the suspension of nine MLAs from Congress has put forward the talk of the government losing the majority.
The TRS has boldly said that it will move the no-confidence motion which certainly will embarrass the Congress which is a divided house on regional basis. It has sought the support of other parties as well and when a sub-regional party moves the motion, it becomes difficult for the other parties to take a firm stand. BJP and CPI are the known supporters of a separate state. Congress has two views the rest of the parties are non-committal.
Back to the number game, the confidence of Congress shows that it has some aces up its sleeves though YSRCP and TDP are trading charges each provoking the other to move the motion. Should the expelled Congress members be disqualified by the Speaker, N Manohar, the government is safe as the magic figure comes down and in all probability, it has.
A united opposition too cannot defeat it and the government will sail through. Engineering defections at this stage will be an all out battle and we have to wait and see the game.
The budget is likely to be soft as power charges and bus charges were already hiked and agriculture and industry would get a boost.
The government has SC ST Sub Plan Act to boast of and the recent success in cooperative polls to bank on while the opposition is honing up it armoury to attack the government for the hike in power charges, acute power cuts, Dilsukhnagar bomb blasts and closure of industries.
This session will see MIM and Congress cross swords on various issues and the Majlis are expected to support the Opposition on all counts.
The session will also go in the annals of the legislature for being held without the presence of the Leader of Opposition. Naidu is on padayatra and will join the session in the later part.
The cabinet meeting ahead of the session will chalk out the strategy and some minister has expressed confidence that they will sail through the no confidence motion. There is no floor coordination among the opposition parties, they feel.
After the Governor’s address, it would be heated discussion on a day to day basis and the lung power of various parties will be seen to the maximum. (INN)