No-trust move against Modi possible, but last resort: Naidu

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said on Monday he could possibly launch a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government at the Centre with the support of other parties to get "justice" for the southern state. However, he said such a move would be the "last resort".

Naidu and his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) are furious over what he says is grossly insufficient allocation of funds for Andhra Pradesh in the Union Budget. The issue has strained ties between the BJP and its biggest ally in the South.

"But a no-confidence motion should be the last resort. We will continue our fight for justice to Andhra Pradesh. If that doesn't happen, we will muster support from other parties and move the no-trust motion," Naidu, the TDP president, announced at a meeting of the of Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti in Vijayawada on Monday evening.

"The Centre did nothing for us in the last four years. As chief minister, I will not tolerate if injustice is done to people. Whether they (the Centre) will help us with a special category status or a special economic package is up to them," he said.

Earlier in the day, Naidu had dismissed the demands made by the opposition YSR Congress and Jana Sena to consider bringing a no-trust motion.

TDP sources told PTI that Naidu was planning to convene an all-party meeting soon to discuss ways to build pressure on the Centre to secure the state's "rightful" due.

The TDP is a key constituent from southern India in the BJP-led NDA dispensation.

YSRC president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy announced that his party would move the no-trust motion if the TDP did not do so.

But Naidu riposted, "Does he (Jagan) have head and tail? If you move a no-confidence motion, they (BJP) have majority. It will be defeated and you can't talk anything for six months on the issue," the chief minister told reporters at the Polavaram project site.

"First there should be a debate ... we have to muster support ... injustice was done (to Andhra) right inside Parliament ... now we are demanding justice from the same Parliament,'' he said.

Naidu has said that provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, and the promises made by the then prime minister Manmohan Singh in the Rajya Sabha have not been implemented yet. "We are also part of India. When I say that, they (YSR Congress) say we will run away by resigning (from Parliament) or moving a no-confidence motion," Naidu said.

The chief minister said his government would take the lead to secure the state's rights from the Centre. "Let them (YSRC) come with us and cooperate. But they are asking us to follow them. Who are they? What's their history?" he asked.

Following the protests by Andhra Pradesh MPs in Parliament, finance minister Arun Jaitley had said that a formula will soon be worked out to release funds under a special package to Andhra Pradesh.

The MPs belonging to the TDP, YSR Congress and Congress had protested "non-implementation" of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, and demanded a financial package for the bifurcated state.