In big jolt to Narendra Modi government, TDP quits NDA, moves no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) today decided to quit the NDA, days after two of its ministers resigned from the Narendra Modi government following the Centre's refusal to grant Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh. The party also moved a no-confidence motion against the Modi government over the injustice meted out to the state. However, the motion was not taken up and the lower house was adjourned for the day.  The no-confidence motion was moved by TDP leader Thota Narasimham in the Lok Sabha. Union ministers -- P Ashok Gajapati Raju and Y S Chowdary -- had quit on March 8 after a meeting with the prime minister. The TDP politburo unanimously took the decision during a tele-conference with party supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu this morning.

The party politburo meeting to decide over quitting the NDA was planned for this evening, but the formality was completed during the daily tele-conference Chandrababu holds with party leaders in the morning.
The TDP will write a letter to BJP president Amit Shah and also other constituents of the NDA informing its decision and the reasons for it, the communique said. 

TDP has 'woken up' to needs of AP: Jaganmohan Reddy

YSR Congress president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy today said the TDP had "woken up" to the needs of Andhra Pradesh by moving a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government over special status to the state. 

His remark came after the TDP this morning quit the NDA.

Terming the TDP's decision a "win for democracy", Reddy asserted his party would continue to fight for Special Category Status (SCS) for Andhra Pradesh.

"After 4 years of relentless struggle and fight by YSRCP with people's support for Special Category Status; finally the nation, including @ncbn's TDP wakes up!" Jagan said in a tweet.

He said that even if guided by political compulsion, the TDP had to yet again follow the YSRCP's lead of moving a no-confidence motion against the Centre for not granting SCS to the state.

"Win for democracy & people of AP. YSRCP will continue to fight for SCS, the rights of the people of AP," Reddy, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh, said in another tweet.

The YSRC had yesterday issued a notice to the Lok Sabha Secretary-General for moving a no-confidence motion against the NDA government.

It said that this was for failing to implement the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, and also the promises made in Rajya Sabha by the then prime minister Manmohan Singh, including grant of special status.

Initially, the main opposition party in Andhra Pradesh wanted to move the motion on March 21, but with indications that the Lok Sabha may be adjourned sine die ahead of schedule, it decided to move the motion today.

The TDP, which last evening announced support for the no-confidence motion, today decided to move a motion on its own. "Supporting a no-confidence motion moved by a thieves' party (YSRC) will send wrong signals to the people. Hence, we should move a motion on our own," TDP president and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu told his party leaders via a tele-conference.

"YSRC's notice (for a no-trust motion) will have only five signatures whereas we have 16. It will be easy for us to muster support of 51 MPs (required for the motion to be taken up)," Chandrababu said.

He alleged that the BJP was enacting a "drama" through Jagan and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan. "You move a no-confidence motion and make your MPs resign. We will grant SCS and make believe it happened only because of you. That's the BJP drama through Jagan," the chief minister alleged.

The TDP chief said that the BJP was enacting "another drama" through Kalyan by asking him to launch a fast-unto-death. "People are watching all this and they will teach a fitting lesson," he said.