The Hindu : New Delhi News : Naidu expels M. Jagannath from TD

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Naidu expels M. Jagannath from TD

J. Balaji

To seek explanation from Chittoor MP Audikesavulu Naidu

No compromise on party discipline, says Naidu
Charges Congress leaders with intimidating MP

NEW DELHI: Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday expelled Nagakurnool (SC) MP M. Jagannath from the party for defying the TDP whip and voting in favour of the UPA government “for monetary considerations,” during the trust vote on Tuesday.

He would seek an explanation from another MP from Chittoor, D.K. Audikesavulu Naidu, as there were reports that he too had cross-voted. “However we have called for records from the Lok Sabha secretariat. If it is proved that he too had violated the party whip he would be expelled from the organisation,” he said. The party would urge Speaker Somnath Chatterjee to disqualify members who had voted against the party whip in violation of the anti-defection law.

When all such rebels were disqualified, the Opposition might move a no-confidence motion on the same issue against the UPA government, he said. Talking to mediapersons here, Mr. Naidu said there would not be any compromise on party discipline. “No one will be spared if they go against the party’s interests.” Wondering what made Dr. Jagannath switch sides, he disagreed that the whip was issued late and that Dr. Jagannath voted according to his conscience.

Dr. Jagannath, who was with the party for the last 12 years, had been made Lok Sabha member thrice besides being a polit bureau member. “What else he wanted. Is this elevation not enough? There is nothing wrong in the party. The fault is only with Dr. Jagannath,” he said.

On reports that Mr. Audikesavulu Naidu had given two chits, for and against the confidence motion, Mr. Naidu said that the MP was threatened with criminal cases besides offer of money. During the voting as many as 10 MPs, Ministers, including Renuka Choudary, Panabaka Lakshmi, Lalu Prasad, Asaduddin Owaisi rushed towards him to make him vote in favour of the government, he alleged. He said even Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who was camping in Delhi since Sunday, had a role to play in the episode.

Mr. Naidu accused Speaker Somnath Chatterjee of not discharging his duties sincerely as he had allowed the members to freely go here and there in the House, which ultimately helped rigging and manipulation in favour of the government.

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