Post date: Apr 21, 2011 5:34:38 AM
After talking tough, the ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh remained indecisive on the disciplinary action to be initiated against the rebel MLAs who have been openly siding with YSR Congress Party president YS Jaganmohan Reddy.
Though the Congress was expected to submit a petition to Assembly Deputy Speaker Nandendla Manohar today seeking disqualification of at least five rebel MLAs, nothing happened till late Wednesday evening.
The legislators, Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, Konda Surekha (both former Ministers), A Amarnath Reddy, G Srikanth Reddy and C Adinarayana Reddy, had been actively campaigning for Jagan in the by-election to Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency even as he vehemently attacked Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
Taking serious note of this, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee President D Srinivas announced that the party would crack the whip of the errant MLAs.
The Congress high command, too, took a serious view of the issue and directed the APCC to act tough against the MLAs.
Accordingly, Congress Legislature Party decided to petition the Assembly Deputy Speaker seeking their disqualification.
Government Chief Whip Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Whip Kondru Murali Mohan and other senior leaders discussed the issue for several hours today. Bhatti and Murali also conferred with the Deputy Speaker in the evening.
However, they could not decide on whom to crack the whip as there were several other MLAs who, too, had been openly moving along with Jagan, who quit the Congress late last year. (more)
Late in the night, Bhatti met Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to discuss the issue and finalise names of MLAs against whom action has to be initiated.
"We are finalising the names and will soon take a final call on the issue," a top party leader said.
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on Praja Rajyam President K Chiranjeevi to seek disqualification of two MLAs, B Sobha Nagi Reddy and K Rami Reddy, who have been sailing with Jagan.
For the last few months, Chiranjeevi had been promising disciplinary action against the two but failed to act. Now that the Congress is getting ready to act against its rebel legislators, Chiranjeevi is also under pressure to crack the whip, PRP sources said.
But the filmstar-turned-politician has not taken a decision yet in this regard. Incidentally, PRP will be formally merged with the Congress next month.