Andhra division: Congress expels six MPs

The move comes days after the Union Cabinet cleared the proposal for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and creation of Telangana

Angered by the fact that they had proposed a no-confidence motion against their own government, Congress President Sonia Gandhi endorsed a decision of the disciplinary action committee and six party MPs from Andhra Pradesh were expelled from the Congress on Tuesday. The MPs are Lagadapati Rajagopal (Vijayawada), Rayapati Sambasiva Rao (Guntur), A Saipratap (Rajampet), Vundavalli Aruna Kumar (Rajahmundry), G V Harsha Kumar (Amalapuram) and Sabdam Hari (Anakapalle), all from the Seemandhra region who had opposed the division of Andhra Pradesh.

Earlier, murmurs about a revolt in the Congress party had surfaced and two ministers – Purandeswari and Pallam Raju – had begun to stay away from office. However, moving a no-confodence motion is an anti-party step and Sonia Gandhi endorsed the expulsion of the MPs without any reservations. “Congress president Sonia Gandhi has approved the decision of the disciplinary committee of the AICC to expel the six MPs from Andhra Pradesh with immediate effect,” said AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi in a press release. With the decision to expel the MPs, the Congress apparently seeks to send a strong message to party members including Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who are fiercely opposing the creation of Telangana . The party has made up its mind on the issue.

According to PTI reports, the Telangana Bill has got presidential nod and is likely to be tabled after February 18. Both, the party and the government have repeatedly reiterated their commitment to the creation of the separate state. Meanwhile, contrary to earlier expectations, the Telangana Bill would now be introduced in the Lok Sabha first instead of the Rajya Sabha, with the government seeking a fresh recommendation from the President after the Upper House secretariat has held it as a money bill.

Sources said the move comes after questions were raised over the constitutionality of introducing the bill first in the Upper House.

The Rajya Sabha secretariat has said that the bills for the division of other states – Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar – had also been introduced in the Lower House.