Seemandhra MPs Serve No Trust Notices

In a major embarrassment for the Congress-led UPA government in its final Parliament session, its own MPs from the Seemandhra region have issued notices for a no trust motion against Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh over the proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

TDP and YSR Congress MPs too served the notices for a no confidence motion against the Manmohan Singh government.

The notices were served by Sabbam Hari on behalf of 6 Congress MPs, while M Venugopala Reddy (TDP) and Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy (YSRCP) also submitted the notices to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on behalf of their respective parties, in Delhi, on Thursday.

The notices were given shortly before the Lok Sabha met for the day. Any move to bring a no confidence motion requires the support of around 50 members, about 10% of the membership of the House.

The no trust motion notices were given after the Centre indicated that it would, by all means, pass the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill in Parliament in this final session.

Following disruptions over the Telangana issue, the House was adjourned till 12 noon.

When the House met again at noon, Seemandhra MPs stormed the well, demanding that their notices be taken up.

"Dear members, this is the last session of Parliament. I appeal to you to please go back to your seats and let this House function," Meira Kumar said, "The House is not in order, and I cannot count 50 members to take up the vote of no confidence," she said.

The Speaker then asked the MPs to table their reports and papers before the House. After functioning briefly for 12 minutes, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day. (INN)