Chief Minister Kirankumar reddy lambasted the congress MLAs owing allegiance to the YSR Congress party president Mr YS Jaganmohan reddy for defying the whip during the division on the no-confidence motion and announced they would petition the Speaker Nadendla Manohar in a day or two for their disqualification.

Addressing journalists in Delhi after the high command asked the state leadership to proceed against the 16 MLAs who voted in favour of the no-confidence motion, Kiran said the MLAs had denigrated politics in the state by their action.

“Under rule 21 B, we will petition the Speaker in a day or two for their disqualification,” he said. Kirankumar earlier held discussions with party president Sonia Gandhi, her political secretary Ahmad Patel and in-charge of AP congress affairs Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad on the defiance of whip by the 16 MLAs and also on the Telangana issue.

When asked about the cabinet expansion, he said that can be done whenever they wanted. However, reports said that cabinet expansion will take place only after finding a solution to the Telangana issue. “We have excellent relations with Chiranjeevi, you don’t worry,” the CM said in response to another question.  (JUBS)