Hyderabad, Dec 10 (IANS): The Congress Saturday decided 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, party sources said Saturday.

According to sources, the central leadership gave its nod after Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy called on party president Sonia Gandhi and other central leaders in New Delhi and briefed them about the political situation in the state.

Kiran Kumar Reddy 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).

In the 295-member house, 122 members voted for the motion while 160 opposed it.

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.

The decision by the Congress leadership came amid differences within the party over the issue. A section of leaders opposed disqualification of rebels, saying it would be difficult for the party to face by-elections in so many constituencies.

Jaganmohan Reddy has already challenged the Congress to disqualify the rebels and face by-elections in all the 17 constituencies.