With just two days left for the crucial vote of confidence of ruling Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), political scenario turned into a battleground on Sunday with politicians defecting amidst heavy lobbying in New Delhi.
Chief of Samajwadi Party (SP) Mulayam Singh Yadav denied any rift within his party and claimed that his party is united even as a few Member of Parliament (MPs) from his party decided to desert him. "There is nothing wrong within our party, there is no rift, we are united, be it the people or the party workers, all are together," said Mulayam Singh.
Mulayam Singh expressed his confidence that the UPA government would bounce back and last its full term. He added that SP had suspended five MPs but despite that his party still enjoys the support of 39 MPs.
"As far as the issue of our support is concerned, we are against the communal forces and we continue to do so. We are doing things that are in favour of the government," added Mulayam Singh.
On the other hand Munawwar Hassan rebel member of Samajwadi Party announced that he, along with 9-10 other MPs of SP have decided to vote against the UPA government.
Munnawar addressed the media after meeting Mayawati, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and party chief of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
"We have made all arrangements for the government to topple over. As we had told you almost ten days back, a group of us, around 9-10 of us are leaving SP and are with Mayawati. The numbers shall be sufficient now," said Hassan.
Meanwhile, Mayawati seems to have emerged as the key player in the political game that is all set to decide not only the fate of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led government but also of the US-India civil nuclear deal.
After a luncheon meeting, she said that the opposition camp is geared up to topple the government.
"We have decided to vote UPA out of power and for the same; we have made a one point program in today's meeting. In the July 222 vote of confidence, we have decided to vote against the government," said Mayawati.
Taking a stand against Mulayam Singh, Mayawati said that he is accusing her party of horse-trading without any proof. She further added that she is not responsible if members of SP voluntarily join her camp.
"Now if SP members voluntarily join us, if they vote against the nuclear deal and vote against the government, what can I do," asked Mayawati.
Amidst all the political drama, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), one of the former communist allies of the UPA who withdrew support leading to the vote of confidence motion in the parliament, reiterated its stand against the nuclear deal.
Prakash Karat, General Secretary of CPI (M) expressed hope that the UPA government will not see the light of the day after June 22, the day slated for the confidence vote.
"We have made up our mind to vote this government out of power on July 22. We do not wish that this government should stay in power after July 22," said Karat.
The hitherto blurred situation should be clear with the outcome of the 'political dinner parties' planned by various top politicians.
The government believes it has enough votes to avoid an early election after securing the backing of the Samajwadi Party, but observers say the trust vote could turn out to be close.
If the government loses, early elections will be called and a civilian nuclear deal with the United States, over which the government's communist allies withdrew support, could be buried.
The government needs to reach the 272 mark in the 543 member Lok Sabha to win the trust vote.
The nuke deal, which has been clouded in controversy but gives India access to the U.S. nuclear fuel and technology, is potentially worth billions of dollars to the U.S. and European nuclear supplier companies and would give India more energy alternatives to drive its development.
Copyright :ANI
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Trust Vote ??
Trust vote is turning out to be no less than the general election that in any case is not too far whether the Manmohan Singh led Government wins it or not. No political party is thinking about the nation. An election at this stage would be a disaster when there is global surge in prices and economies world over is dwindling. With the date approaching for the trust vote, the number game is getting sharper. Over a decade ago, the Vajpayee Government fell by just one vote. It’s going to be extremely close.
The three major parties have different interests in toppling the Government. The Bharatiya Janata Party is taking it as an opportunity to come back to power in spite of the fact that the nuclear deal would have been in place had the party been in power. In other words, the party has no problem with the nuclear deal. Also, its own Adviser Mr. Brijesh Mishra had lauded the deal recently by saying “we couldn't’t have got it any better.” Another issue, the BJP wants to take advantage of is price rise. The BJP as well other parties are aware there is no way at this stage to contain the prices even if they come to power. All the developed nations are facing the problem of price rise. Only if someone could come out with an alternative to oil then the prices can be contained. And, this is very unlikely.
The Bahujan Samaj Party that has nothing to do with the nuclear deal is another force with a twin mission - First, to avenge Centre-‘instigated’ CBI investigations against its MPs and second, the realization of Mayawati dream of progressing from being a State power to a Central power.
The Left, the so-called third force, is like a wounded lion bereft of power that it tasted for the first time in six decades. It has now left its ideology behind and hobnobbing with parties that it once said are communal. So, nobody is thinking of the poor tax payers whose money will be spent on the elections.
Admitting that ruling establishment is pulling all stops to get smaller parties and individual MPs to vote in favour of the UPA during the trust vote, Left is also attempting to rally political parties so that the government can be toppled on July 22.CPM general secretary Prakash Karat had a meeting with party’s parliamentary leadership to decide on the strategy inside and outside Parliament.
Speaker Somnath Chatterjee is not likely to resign before the trust vote but assured his party that he would cast his ballot against the UPA. “It’s all a part of well-thought out plan. We will not lose a vote,” a source said. Senior leaders are also reaching out to various parts of the country to tell people how Manmohan Singh-led government has betrayed the country on the issue of nuclear deal and how it falls short of PM’s promise in Parliament.
As for Left’s efforts to garner support, so far apart from TDP no party has committed. JD (S) MP Veerendra Kumar has also promised support to Left even if party goes with the government. Left is also not relying on Deve Gowda.
But National Conference is undecided. On the other hand Left feels Jharkhand Mukti Morcha cannot be relied upon. Parties like AGP have gone over to NDA and will vote against the government.
Explaining NC’s dilemma, a Left source said, “National Conference does not want to antagonise
Congress before assembly election. NC sees itself as filling the slot left by the PDP in J&K and team with Congress after the election results.”
CPM also denied that senior leaders like Jyoti Basu do not agree with party’s stand to vote against the UPA. Calling it “fabricated”, CPM said “such motivated reports are being floated to hamper the rallying of all the forces who are committed to oppose the nuclear deal and bring to book UPA’s failure to tackle price rise and other problems of the people.”
But what’s wrong with the nuclear deal? The Prime Minister has said that the deal will open up new possibilities of cooperation not only with the US but also with other nuclear powers like Russia and France. Mr. Manmohan Singh said that without the agreement trade in dual technologies could not become a reality. The deal, he said protects our national interest, our capacity to use the nuclear power to protect our strategic interests.”
According to sources in Sydney, Australia is waiting for the deal to happen and then reverse its stand on sale of Uranium to India. Australian Foreign Minister Mr. Stephen Smith, according to media reports, said although the Government has a strong policy of not exporting Uranium to non-Nuclear Proliferation Treaty signatory countries, the ban could be overturned if the long awaited 123 agreement between India and US was finalised. “If the agreement is passed, we could join the consensus. We will wait for the agreement and then make a judgment. In the agreement, a reference to the section 123 of US Atomic Energy Act of 1954 allows the US and other countries to supply nuclear technology and fuel to India even though it is not a signatory to the NPT.”
The External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the nuclear power offered the most potent means to ensure energy security. “In my view, nuclear power appears to offer India the most potent means to realize its long-term energy security” he said. Mr. Mukherjee said “nuclear energy is an option and we shall have to go (for the deal).” “Given the oil price scenario, we seriously need to consider how our energy basket may be expanded so as to meet the deficit in India’s energy requirement.”
BJP leader Venkiah Naidu had sometimes back blamed the Prime Minister for not obtaining a consensus on the Indo-US nuclear deal before going ahead with it. “The government went the opposite way. It first signed the deal and then sought to have a political consensus and is now seeking cooperation of the opposition” he added.
The Left’s contention is that the Hyde Act does not allow India to pursue its Defence nuclear programme and that the US will interfere with India’s foreign policy.
Even if the US does so it really doesn’t matter because till now it was the Soviet Union who was running India’s foreign policy. It is the shift from Russia to US that is really upsetting the Left.
So, in all situations all parties would have to devise ways to stall elections and save tax payers’ money.
With just over 120 hours left for the trust vote, sources have told me (on behalf of Star News)that the UPA is leaving no stone unturned to win the extra support in lieu of the forthcoming trust vote scheduled on July 22 in a bid to attain the magic number of 272.Over 20 undecided MPs continue to hold the key to the fate of the government during the trust vote as both the UPA and its opponents are fighting tooth and nail to garner support of small groups and independents.In a House with a strength of 545 minus the Speaker, two vacancies and a member who cannot vote, the two sides are close to each other with the ruling UPA accounting for 263 committed MPs and the opposition a committed 258.
BJP 'brokers' have got proactive before trust vote: Cong
Launching a frontal attack against the Opposition BJP, the Congress on Thursday (July 11) alleged that the "brokers" of the party are roaming around to ensure support for the NDA during the trust vote.
"The brokers of BJP, trained by a former minister who is no more, have become proactive before the trust vote," Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari alleged.
Asked whether the Congress too was adopting questionable methods to win support of the MPs, Tiwari refuted the charges and attacked the BJP.
"This is a party whose ethics are defined by one of its national presidents accepting money on national television. In Karnataka, they are adopting all means to secure support of rival MLAs," said Tiwari.
In reply to a question whether the Congress was "comfortable" taking the support of MPs with a criminal background and those in jail, Tiwari said these MPs would be exercising their constitutional rights.
Asked if the clean image of the Prime Minister would get a dent following the support of the tainted MPs, Tiwari said, "there would be no impact on his image".
BSP, SP indulging in opportunistic politics: BJP
Meanwhile, the BJP in Uttar Pradesh lashed out at the BSP and the Samajwadi Party for favouring personal interests above national cause.
The party alleged that leaders of both SP and BSP are involved in disproportionate assets cases and cannot be expected to provide clean governance, state BJP president Ramapati Ram Tripathi said.
"These parties do not hesitate to take the help of criminal, corrupt and fundamentalist elements in forming the government," Tripathi said, adding the recent deal between SP and Congress was also guided by selfish motives.
He said BJP will have no alliance with BSP and go alone in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
Ruling out speculations of factionalism after senior party leaders including vice president Kalyan Singh abstained from the state executive meeting in Vrindavan recently, Tripathi released an ambitious plan to mobilise party cadres before the elections.
"Our target is to hold 1,000 meetings every day from August 9 to August 23 to inform the cadres about issues such as Amarnath Shrine Board, the deteriorating law and order in Uttar Pradesh, minority appeasement by Central and state governments and the rising inflation which will be made election issues," he said.
State level rallies will be held in Varanasi, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Agra, Aligarh, Moradabad, Bareilly, Gorakhpur and Gonda from August 28 till the end of September.
Soren gives shivers to UPA
The 64-year old tribal leader Shibu Soren is giving anxious moments to the UPA government as stand of its 5 Lok Sabha members on the trust vote is still a closely guarded secret. MPs belonging to the Jharkhand outfit are among over 20 Lok Sabha members who hold the key to the fate of the government during Tuesday's confidence vote.
The JMM is said to be involved in a hard bargain with the UPA for giving its support and has given enough indications that Soren should get back his Coal Ministry in return for his party's support.
The three major parties have different interests in toppling the Government. The Bharatiya Janata Party is taking it as an opportunity to come back to power in spite of the fact that the nuclear deal would have been in place had the party been in power. In other words, the party has no problem with the nuclear deal. Also, its own Adviser Mr. Brijesh Mishra had lauded the deal recently by saying “we couldn't’t have got it any better.” Another issue, the BJP wants to take advantage of is price rise. The BJP as well other parties are aware there is no way at this stage to contain the prices even if they come to power. All the developed nations are facing the problem of price rise. Only if someone could come out with an alternative to oil then the prices can be contained. And, this is very unlikely.
The Bahujan Samaj Party that has nothing to do with the nuclear deal is another force with a twin mission - First, to avenge Centre-‘instigated’ CBI investigations against its MPs and second, the realization of Mayawati dream of progressing from being a State power to a Central power.
The Left, the so-called third force, is like a wounded lion bereft of power that it tasted for the first time in six decades. It has now left its ideology behind and hobnobbing with parties that it once said are communal. So, nobody is thinking of the poor tax payers whose money will be spent on the elections.
Admitting that ruling establishment is pulling all stops to get smaller parties and individual MPs to vote in favour of the UPA during the trust vote, Left is also attempting to rally political parties so that the government can be toppled on July 22.CPM general secretary Prakash Karat had a meeting with party’s parliamentary leadership to decide on the strategy inside and outside Parliament.
Speaker Somnath Chatterjee is not likely to resign before the trust vote but assured his party that he would cast his ballot against the UPA. “It’s all a part of well-thought out plan. We will not lose a vote,” a source said. Senior leaders are also reaching out to various parts of the country to tell people how Manmohan Singh-led government has betrayed the country on the issue of nuclear deal and how it falls short of PM’s promise in Parliament.
As for Left’s efforts to garner support, so far apart from TDP no party has committed. JD (S) MP Veerendra Kumar has also promised support to Left even if party goes with the government. Left is also not relying on Deve Gowda.
But National Conference is undecided. On the other hand Left feels Jharkhand Mukti Morcha cannot be relied upon. Parties like AGP have gone over to NDA and will vote against the government.
Explaining NC’s dilemma, a Left source said, “National Conference does not want to antagonise
Congress before assembly election. NC sees itself as filling the slot left by the PDP in J&K and team with Congress after the election results.”
CPM also denied that senior leaders like Jyoti Basu do not agree with party’s stand to vote against the UPA. Calling it “fabricated”, CPM said “such motivated reports are being floated to hamper the rallying of all the forces who are committed to oppose the nuclear deal and bring to book UPA’s failure to tackle price rise and other problems of the people.”
But what’s wrong with the nuclear deal? The Prime Minister has said that the deal will open up new possibilities of cooperation not only with the US but also with other nuclear powers like Russia and France. Mr. Manmohan Singh said that without the agreement trade in dual technologies could not become a reality. The deal, he said protects our national interest, our capacity to use the nuclear power to protect our strategic interests.”
According to sources in Sydney, Australia is waiting for the deal to happen and then reverse its stand on sale of Uranium to India. Australian Foreign Minister Mr. Stephen Smith, according to media reports, said although the Government has a strong policy of not exporting Uranium to non-Nuclear Proliferation Treaty signatory countries, the ban could be overturned if the long awaited 123 agreement between India and US was finalised. “If the agreement is passed, we could join the consensus. We will wait for the agreement and then make a judgment. In the agreement, a reference to the section 123 of US Atomic Energy Act of 1954 allows the US and other countries to supply nuclear technology and fuel to India even though it is not a signatory to the NPT.”
The External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the nuclear power offered the most potent means to ensure energy security. “In my view, nuclear power appears to offer India the most potent means to realize its long-term energy security” he said. Mr. Mukherjee said “nuclear energy is an option and we shall have to go (for the deal).” “Given the oil price scenario, we seriously need to consider how our energy basket may be expanded so as to meet the deficit in India’s energy requirement.”
BJP leader Venkiah Naidu had sometimes back blamed the Prime Minister for not obtaining a consensus on the Indo-US nuclear deal before going ahead with it. “The government went the opposite way. It first signed the deal and then sought to have a political consensus and is now seeking cooperation of the opposition” he added.
The Left’s contention is that the Hyde Act does not allow India to pursue its Defence nuclear programme and that the US will interfere with India’s foreign policy.
Even if the US does so it really doesn’t matter because till now it was the Soviet Union who was running India’s foreign policy. It is the shift from Russia to US that is really upsetting the Left.
So, in all situations all parties would have to devise ways to stall elections and save tax payers’ money.
With just over 120 hours left for the trust vote, sources have told me (on behalf of Star News)that the UPA is leaving no stone unturned to win the extra support in lieu of the forthcoming trust vote scheduled on July 22 in a bid to attain the magic number of 272.Over 20 undecided MPs continue to hold the key to the fate of the government during the trust vote as both the UPA and its opponents are fighting tooth and nail to garner support of small groups and independents.In a House with a strength of 545 minus the Speaker, two vacancies and a member who cannot vote, the two sides are close to each other with the ruling UPA accounting for 263 committed MPs and the opposition a committed 258.
BJP 'brokers' have got proactive before trust vote: Cong
Launching a frontal attack against the Opposition BJP, the Congress on Thursday (July 11) alleged that the "brokers" of the party are roaming around to ensure support for the NDA during the trust vote.
"The brokers of BJP, trained by a former minister who is no more, have become proactive before the trust vote," Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari alleged.
Asked whether the Congress too was adopting questionable methods to win support of the MPs, Tiwari refuted the charges and attacked the BJP.
"This is a party whose ethics are defined by one of its national presidents accepting money on national television. In Karnataka, they are adopting all means to secure support of rival MLAs," said Tiwari.
In reply to a question whether the Congress was "comfortable" taking the support of MPs with a criminal background and those in jail, Tiwari said these MPs would be exercising their constitutional rights.
Asked if the clean image of the Prime Minister would get a dent following the support of the tainted MPs, Tiwari said, "there would be no impact on his image".
BSP, SP indulging in opportunistic politics: BJP
Meanwhile, the BJP in Uttar Pradesh lashed out at the BSP and the Samajwadi Party for favouring personal interests above national cause.
The party alleged that leaders of both SP and BSP are involved in disproportionate assets cases and cannot be expected to provide clean governance, state BJP president Ramapati Ram Tripathi said.
"These parties do not hesitate to take the help of criminal, corrupt and fundamentalist elements in forming the government," Tripathi said, adding the recent deal between SP and Congress was also guided by selfish motives.
He said BJP will have no alliance with BSP and go alone in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
Ruling out speculations of factionalism after senior party leaders including vice president Kalyan Singh abstained from the state executive meeting in Vrindavan recently, Tripathi released an ambitious plan to mobilise party cadres before the elections.
"Our target is to hold 1,000 meetings every day from August 9 to August 23 to inform the cadres about issues such as Amarnath Shrine Board, the deteriorating law and order in Uttar Pradesh, minority appeasement by Central and state governments and the rising inflation which will be made election issues," he said.
State level rallies will be held in Varanasi, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Agra, Aligarh, Moradabad, Bareilly, Gorakhpur and Gonda from August 28 till the end of September.
Soren gives shivers to UPA
The 64-year old tribal leader Shibu Soren is giving anxious moments to the UPA government as stand of its 5 Lok Sabha members on the trust vote is still a closely guarded secret. MPs belonging to the Jharkhand outfit are among over 20 Lok Sabha members who hold the key to the fate of the government during Tuesday's confidence vote.
The JMM is said to be involved in a hard bargain with the UPA for giving its support and has given enough indications that Soren should get back his Coal Ministry in return for his party's support.
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