Uncertainty prevails over the imposition of President’s rule in the State after Chief Minister, N. Kiran Kumar Reddy tendered his resignation on Wednesday.
The Congress is likely to wait for a minimum of two days before taking a decision on President’s rule as it would like the Bill to be adopted in the Rajya Sabha before seeking legal advice. In the meantime, the Congress high command is rushing the PCC president Botcha Satyanarayana who is camping in Delhi to Hyderabad, to meet the Governor on Thursday afternoon.
All eyes are now on the Governor and his next move whether he would recommend President’s rule in his report to the Centre being despatched on Thursday after studying the political situation. He has already started the consultation process with representatives of recognised political parties. He made the first call to Leader of the Opposition and the second largest party N. Chandrababu Naidu triggering speculation.
Some TDP leaders interpreted the Governor’s call as an invitation for the party to stake its claim while the Congress leaders were dismissive of such talk. Mr. Naidu himself set at rest such speculation. Asked by media persons why he did not explore the possibility of forming a government as the TDP had a strength of 76 members in the Assembly and the likelihood of a sizeable support from other parties if he evinced interest, Mr. Naidu said he wanted power only from the people and not through backdoor methods. Under Article 356, the President’s rule can be imposed if a situation had arisen in which the State government could not be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the ConstitutionBut, the Congress was not in a position to convene a meeting of the legislature party to elect a new leader, owing to the sharp division among the party ranks on regional lines. In such a situation, the Governor had no option but to recommend President’s rule.
Former Assembly Speaker Yanamala Ramakrishnudu too subscribed to the same view saying a situation where no party was in a position to form the Government will have to be construed as constitutional breakdown leading to void in administration. It was a fit case for President’s rule but his personal opinion was to go for immediate elections.
