Congress to move no-trust motion in LS

Kharge takes the lead, gives notice against govt

Egged on by other Opposition parties, the Congress on Friday decided to move a no-confidence motion against the Modi government in the Lok Sabha next week.

The TDP and the YRSCP have stolen the march in Parliament by taking the lead in trying to move a no-confidence motion against the government on the issue of granting special status to Andhra Pradesh.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has given a notice to the Lok Sabha Secretariat to move a no-confidence motion against the Modi government.

A number of Opposition parties had wanted the Congress to take the lead in moving the no-confidence motion, as the initiative taken by the TDP and YSRCP was related to a very regional issue - grant of special category status to Andhra Pradesh.

A senior Opposition leader said an initiative by a national political party could broad-base the no-trust move and also bring greater focus on issues such as the banking scam, agrarian crisis, the handling of foreign policy, issues related to defence among others.

Moreover, the TDP and the YSRCP are perceived as outfits that have mostly aligned with the Modi government on various issues in Parliament and less inclined to back the broader Opposition agenda. The TDP, till recently, was part of the Modi government.

"I request you to include the motion in the Revised List of Business for 27-03-2018: 'This House expresses No-confidence in the Council of Ministers'," Kharge said in a letter to the Lok Sabha secretary general.

The YSRCP was the first to give notice to move a no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha on March 15. Not willing to be left behind, the TDP followed suit the next day hours after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu pulled out of the NDA coalition.

The BJP, with 274 members in the Lok Sabha, enjoys majority in the Lower House which at present has 539 members.