Storm in a teacup - TeluguPeople.com News

The no-confidence motions against the Kiran Kumar Reddy government, notices for which were served separately by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and the YSR Congress, are being watched with interest in various circles. Both motions will be discussed after which voting will be held, probably on Saturday.

The issue has generated a lot of heat and dust. However, no one is in doubt about the most likely fate of the motions. But everyone is expecting that the discussion on the issues raised in the motions and the subsequent voting will throw up some important pointers ' pointers to designs of the crucial players in the field and the political moves they will make or have already made.

However, the developments till now have already thrown up more pointers than they will. The TRS and the YSR Congress know that they, either separately or jointly, cannot dethrone the government. The requisite strength needed for any party to move no-trust motion in the Assembly is 30 members. Short of even that figure, they have roped in members from BJP, CPI, Congress and Telugu Desam party to become eligible to move the motion. As for the TDP, main opposition, it has issued whip to its MLAs asking them to remain neutral on the vote. Given this scenario, it is clear that the no-trust motions will be a mere academic exercise. And, barring some most unlikely development, the government will weather the storm (that well seems to be in a teacup).

Then, why this no-trust motion now? The remarks made by leaders of the TRS and the YSR Congress show that their parties are not serious about the motions. In a TV9 discussion telecast on Thursday, representatives of the two parties said that the motion was basically meant to expose the failures of the government and highlight the programmes of each party. The agenda of the TRS, especially, is to highlight the 'betrayal' by the Congress on the separate Telangana issue.

The TRS, which is reportedly planning a merger with the Congress in the event of the Telangana demand being granted, appears to be desperate, having lost its campaigning power. The no-confidence motion seems to be the straw it is clutching at, at the moment. Not surprisingly, some leaders have described K Chandrasekhara Rao of the TRS as looking for a 'bailout package'. Given this, will the debate it will raise in the Assembly be effective?

The situation of YSR Congress seems to be no different. With Jagan in jail, can his party, however meticulous its planning may be, successfully expose the government in the Assembly? And its move to discuss people's issues in the Assembly will be in addition to what Sharmila is supposed to be doing with her interaction with people across the State. No surprise then that the no-trust motion, against this backdrop, is seen as Jagan's gameplan to come out of the jail.

Besides, given the minuscule strengths of the TRS and YSR Congress and the bulldozing ways of the Congress, if both parties will be allowed to steer a discussion as planned by them is anybody's guess.

The question that repeats itself is, why this hullabaloo in the name of no-confidence motions? What exactly do the TRS and YSR Congress plan to achieve?

Democracy is not all about one party lampooning another, though every means available. Though parties may work with individual agenda at the ideological level, at the ground level they should work with public good in mind for a successful functioning of democracy. Their separate election symbols do not mean that they should constantly indulge in recrimination just because they have nothing better to do. Why should voters elect candidates who waste their mandate with this kind of attitude? The criticism in some circles that TDP is not supporting no-trust the motions because Chandrababu Naidu is in collusion with the Congress is a case in point. Are some of the opposition leaders so na've as to think that a man, who was twice Chief Minister, will fall for a few crumbs offered by the Congress? At this rate, are they making a Chiranjeevi of Chandrababu Naidu?

During the TV9 programme, CPI MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao too refused to believe that Naidu had an understanding with the Congress. It is widely suspected that the TDP, its ignominious defeat at the hands of the YSR Congress in the bypolls still fresh in its mind, is working to avoid a mid-term poll.

As for Congress, the present situation is thrust upon it. Thrust with the responsibility of sending out a strong message, the party is talking tough to its rebels. As with the Congress, if TDP rebels too force its hand, the resulting bypolls in a few constituencies will give an inkling of latest voter trends.

The no-trust motions may witness some discussion on issues concerning people. However, anything done with an ulterior motive, will never serve the stated purpose. That some leaders and the rebels they are wooing should think nothing of forcing a bypoll on some of their constituencies, hardly a year ahead of the general election, speaks volumes for their morals. Don't our leaders have something worthwhile to do?