Congress eyes majority in Council with Operation Akarsh
Hyderabad: After the surprise midnight acquisition of six BRS MLCs, the Congress leadership is keen to continue 'Operation Akarsh' to take a few more BRS MLCs to achieve majority in the Legislative Council before the commencement of the Monsoon Session of the Legislature in the last week of the month.
The ruling Congress plans to introduce a few key Bills in the upcoming session of Legislature and needs a majority in the Upper House to pass them.
In the 40-member Council, the Congress’ strength increased to 12. It still needs nine MLCs to cross the halfway mark of 21.
The government has nominated TJAC chairman Prof. M. Kodandaram and newspaper editor Amer Ali Khan as MLCs under the vacant Governor's quota. If the Governor approves, the Congress strength will increase to 14.
There are two Independent MLCs and two from the AIMIM whose support the Congress hopes to get whenever it introduces Bills. Even if it acquires their support, the government will need three more MLCs.
To overcome this challenge, the Congress leadership wants to proceed ahead with the Operation Akarsh to take five to six more BRS MLCs into its fold by the last week of this month.
In the 40-member Legislative Council, the effective strength is 38 with two MLCs under Governor's quota lying vacant. Of these 38 MLCs, the BRS currently has 21 MLCs, Congress 12, AIMIM two, independents two and the BJP one.