No-trust motion against Mayor, Deputy Mayor of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is a distant possibility

As the present council of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is all set to enter the fourth year of its term, unconfirmed news is doing rounds about the Bharat Rashtra Samithi’s (BRS) plans to move a no-confidence motion against Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi and Deputy Mayor Mothe Srilatha Shoban Reddy.

However, BRS has neither confirmed nor denied any of these reports, while other political participants in the council are maintaining an equally mysterious silence. The issue did not find a mention during the meeting by BJP corporators, who solely focussed on the upcoming Budget session of the council and various other civic issues and policy matters.

The no-confidence motion is seemingly a distant possibility as it is impossible for any party to move it in the session to be held on January 31, if the mandatory procedure to be followed is any indication.

GHMC Act accords immunity to the Mayor from no-trust motion for four years after taking the seat. In case of the present council, the period ends only on February 11 this year. According to officials concerned, the motion needs support from at least 50% of the member strength.

The present council has a strength of 146 elected corporators, and 50 ex-officio members, and the motion will need a minimum of 98 signatures before it is submitted to the Hyderabad District Collector.

The Collector, after receiving the communique, will have to call for a special meeting within 30 days, of which at least 15 should be working days. Each member will have to be informed about the meeting at least 15 days in advance.

For BRS, collecting support from 50% members will be a huge task, which is contingent on various political factors. With MIM, having a strength of 51 members, not showing any inclination towards going against the government, BJP’s role becomes crucial with its 45 members.

Congress has a strength of mere 29 members, with most, including mayor and deputy mayor, defecting to it, post the Assembly elections last year.

“Even if the no-trust motion wins, less than a year would be left before elections are declared for GHMC. It is unlikely that any party would really score politically from such a move, unless for exacting revenge,” said a corporator under the condition of anonymity.