The Congress has decided to initiate disciplinary action against 16 MLAs who voted against the state government during the recent No Confidence Motion in the Assembly.
"The Congress Legislature Party is filing for the disqualification of the members who have defied the whip and voted against the direction of the party," Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy informed the media after meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders in New Delhi on Saturday.
He said that the CLP would file its petition before the Speaker, seeking disqualification of rebel MLAs under the 10th Schedule 2 (1) B.
The Chief Minister said that it was unethical and unfair on part of these MLAs to vote against the party on whose symbol they had got elected. He said that the violation of the party whip was against democratic norms.
He said that the Congress Legislature Party would meet soon to initiate action against the rebel MLAs.
He also said that an explanation would be sought from the MLAs who had abstained from voting during the No Confidence Motion.
The CLP will also discuss possible action against associate members like S Satyanarayana, who got elected as an independent, for violating the party whip.
Earlier, the Chief Minister had a detailed discussion with Sonia Gandhi and Ghulam Nabi Azad (Union Health Minister & In-Charge Of AP Affairs) Azad on various issues including Telangana.
"A lot of consultation has taken place. Once the consultation process is over, the High Command and the centre will take a decision," he said.
The Chief Minister maintained that "more consultation" is required to resolve the issue, and said, "Whatever is good for the state and all regions will be done by the Centre and the party High Command."
Kiran Kumar Reddy said that the party would soon take a decision about the post to be given to Chiranjeevi and the PRP MLAs.
He also said that the Cabinet would be expanded after the High Command gives its permission for it. (INN)