According to party sources, the Congress high command has given its nod to initiate disqualification proceedings against 17 rebel legislators in Andhra Pradesh for violating the party whip during a no-confidence motion in the assembly last week.

The central leadership nod came after chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy called on party president Sonia Gandhi and other central leaders today (10-12-2011) in New Delhi and briefed them about the political situation in the state. The CM is likely to make a formal announcement shortly.

As many as 16 legislators loyal to YSR Congress party chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy voted for the no-confidence motion moved by the opposition Telugu Desam Party while another legislator abstained. The ruling Congress defeated the motion with the help of Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM). The Congress is now likely to submit petitions to Speaker N. Manohar Monday seeking disqualification of the rebels. The speaker will then issue notices to them, calling for their replies. The PRP also submitted a petition Friday to the speaker, seeking disqualification of its legislator Shoba Nagi Reddy, a Jaganmohan Reddy loyalist, who violated the party whip in the trust vote.