Has Congress lost its majority in state?

  Sometime back there was news that the Congress was alarmed by the rising popularity of the YSR Congress party anchored by Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. A good number of senior political leaders from several parties bid adieu to their respective parties where they had spent many years of their political career to join the youth-centric YSRCP. It was then that the Congress woke up from its slumber to realise that the party was losing visibility in Andhra Pradesh.

In October, speculation was rife that Rahul Gandhi had personally asked Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy if the growing popularity of YSRCP would affect Congress' fortunes in the 2014 elections. That was a sure indicator that YSRCP had made Congress jittery.
However, there's no end to the number of people migrating to the YSRCP. The exodus continued. Jagan has at least two new visitors in a day, who come to express their willingness to change their loyalties. That said, one can imagine the strength Jagan's party is gathering by the day. As if that was not enough, the latest news is anything but sweet for the Congress.
News reports suggest that PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana is angry with his partymen for indulging in anti-party activities. And in an act of haste, he lashed out at them in a press conference.
He is so miffed with the partymen that Botsa on Friday announced that he was expelling nine Congress legislators because of their anti-party activities. “I am not treating them as Congress MLAs any more. I do not even want to name them. It is up to the Assembly Speaker to take action,” declared Botsa during a press meet at the party’s headquarters Gandhi Bhavan.
Should that happen then the party's strength would come down to 146, close to losing the majority number to rule the state!
Perhaps foreseeing the possible threat to his government, Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy is cautious at every step—he's yet to accept the resignations of the five Congress legislators who have expressed their will to join Jagan's cadre. It's worth mentioning here that besides those who have already quit their party, four more legislators have pledged to work for YSRCP!
After being witness to the developments in the state politics, YSRCP official spokesperson, Ambati Rambabu said that the ruling party had lost its majority with the PCC chief's announcement!
Can Kiran's government survive the crisis? Does Congress have a backup strategy to retain its power over the state? For now, it's going to be a wait and watch situation!
Reshmi@sakshipost