Talking to some journalists who met him in the legislative council premises on Saturday, he said his party was not afraid of by-elections. He said the Congress legislature party meeting would be held on March 20, at 5 pm in Hyderabad.
He has dismissed the argument that the government fell into a minority. He said 142 members voted against the no-confidence motion and that ministers Vatti vsanta Kumar, Mopidevi Venkata Ramana, Korla Bharati, Marri Sasidhar Reddy and the speaker Nadendla Manohar were party members and had not voted. He said this would mean the party had the support of 147. referring to the last minute vote of Jogi Ramesh against the government, he said the MLA met him on Friday t 6 PM and extended support to the government. He said Vatti Vasanta Kumar was taking rest as he was unwell and he fell asleep after taking tablets.
When asked why the government had taken up discussion on the no-confidence motion so suddenly, he questioned what was wrong in the government taking the decision to prove its majority when opposition parties decided to pull it down.replying to another question, he said as per section 152 of the Representation of People's Act if a seat falls vacant just before one year before the general election, the election commission would not hold by-election. When one scribe questioned about TDP announcement that it would move one more no-confidence motion in May, he said it all depended on the speaker's decision. He said he would allow discussion if he feels it necessary in the changed circumstances. It would all depend on the speaker's descrition, he said. To another question, he said victory in any election depended on several factors and it was wrong to think that elections could be won by spending money.
Replying to a question on funds to the Telangana region, he said he had not said that he would not give funds to the Telangana region. Stating that he had not mentioned about the region, the Chief Minister said he was only replying to the remarks of the TRS MLA Harish Rao. When asked about the Sadak Bandh planned on March 21, Kiran said the law would take its own course.
The Chief Minister said village panchayat elections would be held between the third week of April and first week of May. On power shortage he said the government was telling facts and hoped that people would understand the position. He said due to paucity of rains, water levels in all the reservoirs had depleted and as gas supply was stopped, there was an accute shortage and the government was buying every 6,000 million units of powerr from the RLNG at the rate of Rs. 12 an unit. He hoped that power problems would be overcome by November to some extent as Genco and Hindujas would add 4,300 mw.
