Hyderabad, January 15:The internal squabbles in the ruling Congress party in the State, which came to the fore with the statement of former Kadapa M P that he is in a position to topple the government headed by Mr N Kiran Kumar Reddy, has come in handy for the Opposition parties to demand the Governor to direct the Chief Minister to prove his majority on the floor of the House.
Though the main Opposition TDP was somewhat reluctant to declare its intention to topple the government at present, obviously in view of its own predicament following the tough stand being taken by its leaders hailing from Telangana on the issue of bifurcation of the State, the BJP wants to fish in troubled waters, notwithstanding the fact that it has only two members in the Legislative Assembly and its strength is very negligible.
As a matter of fact, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy has made it clear that though he was in a position to topple the State government, he would not do so in the present circumstances. This is because he was not sure about the next step, when once the government was toppled. Though he was declaring, for public consumption, that the people of the State are solidly behind him in view of the benevolent actions of his father late Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, he was not very sure about the outcome of the scenario that follows the dethroning of the present government.
For one thing, he has to take a decision on a very vital issue—the Telangana State formation, on which his party’s future would largely depend. If he opts for bifurcation of the State, naturally he would incur the wrath of the people of Seemandhra region, where he has to face both the Congress and the TDP. There was absolutely no chance of Jagan’s party having any sort of understanding with the TDP, as its chief, Mr N Chandrababu Naidu, had been consistently taking anti-YSR and anti-Jagan stand right from the day late YSR became the chief minister on many issues. In case he opts for united Andhra, there was practically no chance of his party getting any seats in the Telangana region.
Another major challenge before Mr Jagan is the corruption issue, which would come to the fore once he takes a tough stand against the government. Not only the main Opposition TDP, but even a section of the Congress leaders have already voiced the demand for a thorough probe into the corruption of late Dr YSR and also Mr Jagan.
These two issues are going to stare Mr Jagan in the face, and it is not so easy for him to win the elections, though he is having ‘money power’, and though some of his over-enthusiastic supporters are throwing challenges to the Congress party leadership.
Keeping all these factors in view, political observes feel that for the present, Mr Jagan might not take any drastic step that might precipitate matters and result in fall of the State government. As the Assembly Budget session is likely to commence within the next three or four weeks, one has to wait and watch the developments that may unfold in the coming weeks. (NSS)