AP Speaker may say aye to all quitters

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Hyderabad: Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar in all likelihood may accept the resignations submitted by Congress and TD legislators who have announced that they are joining the YSR Congress.
It is believed that Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy who returned from Delhi on Saturday after a two-day visit had broached the subject with party president Sonia Gandhi and obtained the go-ahead for the purging.
But, utmost care, including working out the intricate numbers game in the Assembly, will be taken before accepting the resignations to ensure the stability of the Congress government in the state.
Reports suggest that the Speaker may announce accepting the resignations a day before Assembly Budget Session commences on March 12.
Congress may have ‘seven-up’ in test
The Congress now has 155 MLAs in the House of 295, just seven more than the half-way mark of 148. As reported in these columns, N. Kiran Kumar Reddy’s camp suspects that the YSR Congress will move a no-confidence motion during the session. If needed, it may parade a few Con-gress MLAs owning allegiance to the YSRC before the Governor to force him to order for a floor test.
Preempting the YSRC moves, the CM decided to go on the offensive by recommending the acceptance of the resignations pending with the Speaker over several months — a move, the CM’s camp feels, will nullify the YSRC’s effort at destabilising the government.
Though 10 Congress MLAs have pledged support to the YSRC, only four have actually submitted their resignations to the Speaker; the others have only announced to do so.
Sujaya Krishna Ranga Rao and Alla Nani met the Speaker and submitted their resignations much before Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy was arrested on May 27, 2012. Maddala Rajesh Peddireddy and Ramachandra Reddy gave their resignations later.
Six Congress MLAs who announced they would join the YSRC haven’t met the Speaker nor submitted resignation.
From the TD, six MLAs have announced quitting the party. Four of them have joined the YSRC, one joined the TRS and another remained neutral.
Of these, only Taneti Vanitha, Amarnadha Reddy and A.V. Praveen Kumar Reddy submitted letters to the Speaker.
The YSRC on its part has nominated all those who have resigned from the Congress and the TD as its candidates for the coming Assembly elections.
If the resignations of the six legislators are indeed accepted, the strength of MLAs in the House will come down to 289, and the half-way mark to 145. However, the ruling party after three resignations will be left with 152 legislators. That means the Congress will continue to be ‘seven up’.