Former Chief Minister and TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu is a jittery man these days. His biggest nightmare these days is the loss of the status of the Leader of the Opposition in Andhra Pradesh Assembly. His position is so precarious that if just six of his 23 MLAs defect or resign, he would lose the status. So jittery he is that he is calling up all the suspect MLAs and is trying to cajole them back into the party.
As per the assembly rules, an Opposition party has to have at least one tenth of the total number of the MLAs in the house. Thus, in the 175-member AP Assembly, Chandrababu has to have at least 18 MLAs to claim the Leader of the Opposition status. Now the party has 23 and if five or six MLAs leave him, he would lose that status. Chandrababu is now moving heaven and earth to retain the number.
But the tidings seem to be so heavily unfavourable for Chandrababu Naidu. Already, Gannavaram MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi has resigned the party. He is currently acting as if he is from the ruling party. Ganta Srinivasa Rao from the North Andhra is already keeping distance from the party affairs. There are reports that he might either join the BJP or the TDP. There are also reports that at least three of the four MLAs from Prakasam and one of the two MLAs from Guntur are ready to defect. Repalle MLA A Satyaprasad is unavailable to the TDP cadres these days. He is keeping a low profile and has kept his cards close to his chest.
Chandrababu is frantically trying to get in touch with Satyaprasad. Similarly, he has called up a sulking Ganta Srinivasa Rao and tried to cajole him to remain in the party. While Ganta remained non-committal, Chandrababu invited him to the inauguration of the new party office in the capital region. The TDP has information that at least one MLA from Prakasam district, will jump into the YSRCP once his Ayyappa Deeksha period is over. So, it's troubling time for the TDP boss as reports from different district say that things are not all that hunky dory for the party.
As per the assembly rules, an Opposition party has to have at least one tenth of the total number of the MLAs in the house. Thus, in the 175-member AP Assembly, Chandrababu has to have at least 18 MLAs to claim the Leader of the Opposition status. Now the party has 23 and if five or six MLAs leave him, he would lose that status. Chandrababu is now moving heaven and earth to retain the number.
But the tidings seem to be so heavily unfavourable for Chandrababu Naidu. Already, Gannavaram MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi has resigned the party. He is currently acting as if he is from the ruling party. Ganta Srinivasa Rao from the North Andhra is already keeping distance from the party affairs. There are reports that he might either join the BJP or the TDP. There are also reports that at least three of the four MLAs from Prakasam and one of the two MLAs from Guntur are ready to defect. Repalle MLA A Satyaprasad is unavailable to the TDP cadres these days. He is keeping a low profile and has kept his cards close to his chest.
Chandrababu is frantically trying to get in touch with Satyaprasad. Similarly, he has called up a sulking Ganta Srinivasa Rao and tried to cajole him to remain in the party. While Ganta remained non-committal, Chandrababu invited him to the inauguration of the new party office in the capital region. The TDP has information that at least one MLA from Prakasam district, will jump into the YSRCP once his Ayyappa Deeksha period is over. So, it's troubling time for the TDP boss as reports from different district say that things are not all that hunky dory for the party.