<b>Cash cry on BJP lips</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Vijay Kumar Malhotraâs outburst appeared to have been prompted mainly by the fear that Shibu Soren was slipping out of the NDAâs grasp, as well as the confusion among Akali Dal members over whether they should vote against a Sikh Prime Minister.
â(The) PMO and 10 Janpath have been turned into a mandi (market) and a hunt for saleable commodities is on,â Malhotra, the BJPâs deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, said.
............
The BJP, which has tried its best to persuade <b>Soren, is now angry with the Congress for âoffering money, ministerial berths and other kinds of largesse to parties and individual membersâ.</b>
<b>Malhotra also accused the Congress of trying to confuse the Akalis in Punjab through âa shameful⦠communal gameâ.</b>
<b>âCongress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal has called for upholding the prestige of the pagdi (turban), </b>and Amarinder Singh has written to (chief minister Parkash Singh) Badal to support the first Sikh Prime Minister. Somebody is holding a religious akhand path in favour of Manmohan Singh. These are blatantly communal acts,â Malhotra said.
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Lets see how Sikhs will vote, its on religion or nation.
<b> PMO 'PATENT PROMOTER' OF HORSE-TRADING: RAVISHANKER PRASAD</b>
By GLOBEGATHER.COM NATIONAL NEWS BUREAU 19 JULY 2008
Amid allegations of poaching of MPs ahead of the July 22 trust vote in Lok Sabha, the BJP on 19 July charged the Prime Minister's Office with being a "patent promoter of horse trading".
"Today the PMO has become the biggest counter for political bargain and the patent promoter of horse-trading," BJP spokesman Ravishanker Prasad told a select group of reporters here.
<b>
Referring to Manmohan Singh's meeting with Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani, he said: "in 1979, Morarji Desai lost his government without making any compromise... In 1998, the Vajpayee government lost by one vote, but today the PMO is being forced to become an arbitrator in corporate disputes (for survival)." Claiming that the fall of the UPA government was "imminent", Prasad said: "the sooner it goes the better." BJP was for good relations with the US but was against the Indo-US nuclear deal in the present form as it compromised India's nuclear deterrent autonomy, the party spokesman said.</b>
<b>
"The deal will shackle India's right to conduct further tests of nuclear tests .... It will severely compromise our nuclear deterrent autonomy,</b>" he said.
<b> PROVE ALLEGATIONS OR APOLOGISE, LALU TELLS BARDHAN</b>
By GLOBEGATHER.COM NATIONAL NEWS BUREAU,19 JULY 2008
Launching a scathing attack on CPI leader A B Bardhan for his remarks that UPA was buying MPs for Rs 25 crore each, RJD chief Lalu Prasad said the CPI leader should prove his ânastyâ allegations or âapologiseâ.
"Bardhanji has harmed the reputation of all parties with his comments. He has said a very nasty thing," Prasad said after chairing a meeting of the RJD parliamentary party at his residence.
The CPI leader has âdefamedâ MPs of all parties and âassassinated their characterâ, Prasad said adding, âhe should either prove his allegations or apologiseâ.
Spewing more venom on the CPI general secretary, he said, "The country will never forgive Bardhan. He has defamed parliamentary democracy. His allegations are a conspiracy to destroy the very foundations of democracy."
The RJP parliamentary party meeting saw 21 of its 24 MPs in attendance. Prasad said all RJD members, including the two jailed MPs Pappu Yadav and Mohammed Shahabuddin, will vote for the UPA during the trust vote. Other than the two, another MP Sitaram Yadav could not come due to personal reasons, he said.
Claiming that the UPA has the support of 291 MPs, the RJD chief expressed confidence that the JMM will vote for UPA.
"This is the season for small parties, with one or two MPs, to show their importance," he said.
<b>
Prasad also said BSP supremo Mayawati and BJP leader L K Advani will never become the Prime Minister.
"Mayawati is only being misguided by some people. Advani is also anxious to be the Prime Minister, but he also cannot be," he said.</b>
"I also want to be the Prime Minister, but can I be?" Prasad quipped.
<b> CONGRESS CLAIMS SUPPORT OF 280 PLUS MPS</b>
By GLOBEGATHER.COM NATIONAL NEWS BUREAU, 19 JULY 2008
Amidst growing suspense on the outcome of the trust vote on July 22, the Congress on 18 July claimed that it has the support of 280 plus MPs.
"We have 280 plus... This is our firm and confirmed support base," Congress media department chief M Veerappa Moily told reporters here, adding, "the news would give sleepless nights to BJP and the Left".
Asked about the break-up of the numbers, Moily refused to elaborate saying it will become clear on July 22. "There are vultures out there in the Opposition who are waiting for the prey," he said in a lighter vein.
On the game of numbers being played ahead of the trust vote, the Congress leader said the UPA enjoyed a "majority" even after the Left withdrew support. "We knew that the Left will withdraw support on some pretext and the nuclear deal gave them the excuse. We were prepared for it and had the numbers in place," Moily said.
Replying to questions on Congress MPs speaking against the party in Karnataka and Haryana and its implications for the trust vote, Moily said, "our flock is together. We are not worried on that count and (are) confident".
He, however, countered by alleging that some MPs of the BJP are not with the saffron party. Asked if the Congress was in touch with any BJP MP to cross over for the trust vote, he replied with a firm "no".
<b>Gufran Azam says he is not averse to joining BJP</b>
Bhopal (PTI): Virtually launching attack on party chief Sonia Gandhi for successive defeats of party in many states, a sulking senior Congress leader Gufran Azam on Saturday said the Congress was not a "fiefdom" of anybody and hinted at joining ... More
<b>
French ambassador meets Rajnath</b>
New Delhi (PTI): French ambassador Jerome Bonnafont on Saturday met BJP president Rajnath Singh and discussed the present political situation in the country.
"Raising the issue of proposed Indo-US nuclear deal, Bonnafont discussed the views prevailing in the IAEA member countries on India specific safeguards," a statement from the party said here.
In the hour-long meeting, they discussed the present political situation in India and BJP's role in future course of events including the forthcoming general elections, it added.
Expressing the BJP's "concern", Singh is understood to have said that the party is "opposed to the proposed Indo-US nuclear deal in its existing form because it fails to address our strategic concerns."
Singh also appreciated French president Nicholas Sarkozy's proposal to enlarge the G-8 to G-13 that would include countries like India, the release said.
The meeting was also attended by the convener of BJP foreign affairs cell, S K Arora and Political adviser to party chief Sudhanshu Trivedi.
<b>
Mamata still non-committal on trust vote</b>
Kolkata (PTI): Three days ahead of the crucial trust vote, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Saturday remained non-committal about her party's stand in the Lok Sabha on July 22.
"I will tell you when we take a decision," Banerjee, who is the lone Trinamool Congress member in the Lok Sabha, told reporters here.
The Trinamool supremo took umbrage when asked what her "expectation" was that was causing delay in announcing her party's decision on the trust vote.
<b>
"What do you think of me? Am I a prime minister or president that I will expect anything?" she replied angrily.
</b>
Banerjee on Friday criticised the alleged horse-trading before the trial of strength and said that the UPA government should seek a fresh mandate on the nuclear deal instead of "debasing Parliament".
<b> CHANDRABABU ENDORSES LEFT VIEW: MAYA CAN BE PM</b>
By GLOBEGATHER.COM NATIONAL NEWS BUREAU,19 JULY 2008
Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu on 19 July endorsed the Left view that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP supremo Mayawati was suitable for the post of Prime Minister.
''Why can't she,'' Naidu counter-questioned a reporter who sought his response to CPI leader A B Bardhan's comment that Ms Mayawati was the most probable candidate for the top executive post.
The TDP chief was talking to reporters after meeting Mayawati here to discuss their political strategy for the July 21-22 special session of the Lok Sabha to dispose of the trust vote of the UPA government.
Their meeting lasted over an hour. Mayawati would play a major role in the United Nationalist Progressive Alliance (UNPA).
Breaking news
Siddiqui SP MP Joins Mayawati and vote against the deal
Shiv Sena to vote against the deal
NDTV
Siddiqui is from RS, he can't vote, but he may push Muslim MP against deal.
I think it will effect congress and SP and other so called secular messhiah Paswan. After having 25+ crore and ministry, he may be forced to vote against. Lets see.
Mamta is as usual, always go wrong, she is good for street utensil fight.
07-19-2008, 11:13 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-19-2008, 11:25 PM by acharya.)
Moily is confidant because they have poached 2MPs from each party to make up the number of 280.
It is corporate lobby which is the biggest lobby for this deal and they have MPs from each party
List tose parties which have long association with US business from Mumbai and Delhi
<b>
Two Sena MPs absent at party meet</b>
Mumbai (PTI): Two of the 12 Lok Sabha members of Shiv Sena were absent at a crucial meeting of the party held here on Saturday to discus the strategy for the July 22 trust vote in Lok Sabha.
Anant Gudhe (Amravati) and Prakash Jadhav (Ramtek) were conspicuous by their absence as the meeting, convened by Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray, got underway at the Thackeray family residence Matoshree in suburban Bandra.
Uddhav has already announced that his party was with NDA on the trust vote issue. However, Sena mouthpiece has stridently supported the nuclear deal, keeping up the suspense on the final stance the saffron party would adopt on the trust vote.
<!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Jul 19 2008, 10:52 PM-->QUOTE(Mudy @ Jul 19 2008, 10:52 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Mamta is as usual, always go wrong, she is good for street utensil fight.
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<!--emo&:roll--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ROTFL.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ROTFL.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:roll--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ROTFL.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ROTFL.gif' /><!--endemo-->
07-19-2008, 11:44 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-20-2008, 01:01 AM by Capt M Kumar.)
<!--emo&<_<--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='dry.gif' /><!--endemo--> by uropinion:
Dilli chali,Mayawati ki barat
Saath mein Advani ji aur Karat
min translation:
Maya goes to Delhi along with Advani and Karat
<!--emo&  --><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> Agra se Dilli tak, galli galli mein jaakar
Sonia Amar ki prem kahani janta ke hontopar
min translation:
Agra to Delhi, people r talking of love story of Sonia Amar
<!--QuoteBegin-acharya+Jul 19 2008, 01:15 AM-->QUOTE(acharya @ Jul 19 2008, 01:15 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Shahid Siddiqui, Samajwadi Party rebel
<b>'We should not be afraid of the US'</b>
July 19, 2008
Shahid SiddiquinÂ
Shahid Siddiqui. Till Saturday afternoon, he was the face of the Samajwadi Party in New Delhi. He was the voice of the Muslims within the party. And he was the expert on the nuclear deal, someone who expressed full-fledged support for the deal.
On Saturday afternoon, he defected and joined Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party. He slammed the India-US nuclear deal. "It is against our national interest. I was suffocating and under pressure from my community. This deal will only take us into the dark. I will surely join the BSP and will fight for the Muslims and Dalits," Siddiqui, standing next to Mayawati, told journalists.
But 48 hours ago, he had explained in this interview to rediff.com's Krishna Kumar P why he supported the deal and how the BSP was the Samajwadi Party's main enemy.
The Rajya Sabha MP also said all Samajwadi Party members of the Lok Sabha were united and there was no reason to fear that the United Progressive Alliance might lose the trust vote. He, however, ended the interview by saying that there was no telling who would vote how till the time the votes are actually cast.
The only indication that not all was well was a survey that his newspaper Nai Duniya had published, saying that 70 per cent of Muslims were against the nuclear deal. But he dispelled that doubt too in the interview.
What is your stand on the nuclear deal as an MP and what is your party's stand?
I have -- and my party too has -- always been for the deal. We think India has reached a stage where we can confidently deal with the United States. We feel India has arrived and we don't have to behave like a colonised country anymore. We are an equal power today.
We are investing more in countries around the world and we should not be afraid of the US.
And we were never against nuclear energy. Of course, there were certain grey areas that were bound by the Hyde Act. Those apprehensions had to be removed. These were issues relating to our foreign policy that could not be explained in public.
What were the reasons for the delay in accepting the deal?
The mistake of the Centre was it never discussed it with us. Many things were clarified when the Centre got in touch with us and by former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam. We re-looked them from our viewpoint and not from the Left's point of view as we had done earlier. We have tremendous respect for the Left, but they have their own distorted view of the globe.
And finally, no deal is perfect. A deal is itself giving and taking. We have given something and have got something. Overall, we should have the confidence that it is a good bargain for India.
Why did you not take any effort to clear these doubts earlier?
First up, we didn't want to annoy the Left. The Left was talking to the government, but we were kept out. They never asked us anything or shared anything with us. Anyway, it was not that we never cleared our doubts. There were a lot of things that we questioned before but never answered.
Nobody talked to the Samajwadi Party in these three years. They never thought we were worth taking the support of.
Finally, our supporting the deal does not mean we agree with the policies of the UPA. We still disagree with most of the things. We are supporting the deal on principle. Mulayam Singh Yadav had done many things. When Dr Kalam's term ended, we believed he was the best, and wanted a second term for him. The Left opposed this and they were so annoyed with us and angry with us, they broke and denounced us.
Ultimately the BJP, the Congress and the whole nation agreed that he was the best president we ever had. People are saying the Samajwadi Party is now supporting the UPA for its gain. Tell me, did we take any money to support Dr Kalam? Like then, today also we are supporting an issue that we believe in.
So, what are these differences that you needed clarification from the UPA?
Broadly speaking it was our foreign policy. The Hyde Act said India's foreign policy should be in congruence with the US's policy. Iran found mention some four or five times. But then India worked on ties with Iran and the government went public saying that they were for friendly ties with Iran. The National Security Adviser's visit to Iran, the foreign minister's visit and Iran President Ahmedinejad's visit to India all happened in the last three months. So our concerns on that issue was allayed.
That was our major concern and not because Iran is a Muslim nation. It was because India cannot afford a war in the Middle East. India gets it highest remittance form the Gulf. If there is a war, India will be the first sufferer in terms of oil also. Nobody is talking about the real reason for the oil price rise. It is the threat to Iran and thus the speculation arising about a war there. A war in the Gulf is against our national interest.
After all major issues were settled, there was this survey in your newspaper that said...
That survey was planned earlier, like all other surveys. Unfortunately, it coincided with this nuclear deal issue and it blew up.
That survey said 70 per cent of Muslims interviewed were against the nuclear deal. Can you share the methodology and other findings of the survey?
5,000 people from Bangalore, Bombay, Calcutta, Patna, Delhi, Malegaon, Muradabad and a few other largely Muslim-dominated small towns in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were interviewed. It talks about their views on the Sachar Committee report and other relevant issues. There was even a question about whether Obama will be better for the Muslim world and 70 per cent felt they were the same.
So, in this survey, 70 per cent said they were against the nuclear deal.
But when they were asked what major issue will decide their vote in the upcoming general election, they said inflation.
The Muslim opposition to the nuclear deal does not mean an electoral setback for the Samajwadi Party?
People generally have very poor opinion of Muslims. The middle class, the media and politicians have only contempt for Muslims. They think the average Muslim votes on issues like Pakistan, Iran and Islam. But the truth is that he votes on local issues.
But the above said groups think they a homogenous vote block without any personality. Every Muslim is an individual who thinks. They don't vote in a similar pattern from one district to another. Even in a same district, the voting pattern differs from the rich to poor and the farmer to the businessman.
Can you explain how the Samajwadi Party-Congress came together?
Contrary to the assumption that it happened in the past three weeks, the coming together started more than a year back. We were for good ties with the Congress even during the UP polls. For us, the BSP was the major enemy. But the Congress saw us as enemies. They thought unless the SP was destroyed, they will never become a 200+ party at the Centre.
When they suffered major losses they realised what a big monster they had created in the BSP and understood they needed the SP's help they started sending overtures to us. They started saying they are not against the SP, but against only one person.
But we told them our support comes as a complete package. Mr Amar Singh is a senior leader. But even if it had been a lower member, the Congress has no business telling us who to keep and who to sideline in the party.
In October the Congress said they will give us eight ministries for our support.
So, Mr Amar Singh said if I am in the way of the party's interest, I will resign.
The party did not accept his resignation and the Congress also started speaking to him.
Since they knew the BSP was emerging stronger, they Congress knew they had to check its rise. They also sensed the Left would go. Mr Amar Singh can be a very bad enemy and a very good friend. Now he is a friend of Smt Sonia Gandhi [Images] and Rahul Gandhi [Images]. He is their Sankatmochan. He was at one point the Sankatmochan of the Left and also even the BJP. But it is a pity that Advani who used to address him brother is calling him names now.
What about your party dissidents? Do you have the support of all your 39 MPs?
This is again a very unfortunate development thanks to the media. They have been playing up the issue of Munawar Hassan. But he left the party a year-and-a-half ago and is working for the Bahujan Samaj Party. We have gone to the privileges committee, but the Congress was dragging its feet on a decision.
But isn't his name in the list of 39 MPs you submitted to the President?
Yes, he is our MP. WE will issue a whip, and if somebody defies the whip, the matter will be addressed accordingly.
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<b>
No question of compromise with Congress: Gowda</b>
Vicky Nanjappa & Krishnakumar P
Last Updated: July 20, 2008 00:34 IST
Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda on Saturday said there was no question of a compromise with the Congress at the moment.
An Alliance in Crisis
Following his meeting with Dr Singh, which remained inconclusive, Gowda said he would convey his final decision by Sunday. However, later in the evening, Gowda spoke more openly about his intentions.
He said, "I did not compromise when I was the prime minister. So where is the question of doing so now? I have never compromised and there is no question of bargaining now."
Sources in the Janata Dal-Secular and the Congress told rediff.com that during Gowda's meeting with the prime minister not a single demand was made. There were more complaints and no demands during the meeting, a JD-S leader said.
Gowda was furious when questioned about a deal he struck with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images].
All he had to say was, "I am not here to strike deals. Don't forget I am the same man who threw away the prime minister's post."
During the meeting, Dr Singh appraised Gowda of the situation and also the stand of the Congress on the nuclear deal.
He also told Gowda that the numbers were very essential in Parliament and hence his support would make a whale of a difference to the survival of the government.
Although Gowda did not flatly refuse support, he had a long list of complaints listed out.
He spoke about the Congress betrayal while he was prime minister.
He also listed out a long list of complaints regarding the Karnataka state Congress and how certain leaders in the state had tried to humiliate him.
Finally, Gowda told Dr Singh that he will need more time to decide as he was meeting with senior party leaders later during the day. He also told the prime minister that a final decision will be arrived at by Sunday and that would be final.
Towards evening, it became clear that the JD-S was in no mood to go with the Congress.
A meeting with the Left leaders and other leaders of the regional parties only gave an indication that Gowda was more interested in forming a third front rather than going with the Congress on July 22.
JD-S MP Veerendra Kumar, who was present at Gowda's residence and met with the Left leaders along with Chandrababu Naidu [Images], said that during the meeting they spoke against the UPA.
He maintained that his vote would be against the UPA and also added that their decision would be made public on Sunday.
For UPA
Congress SP Allies
152 39 70 = 261
Against UPA
BJP Left BSP Allies
130 59 17 55 = 261
Undecided
Ind Others
6 14 = 20
<b>Surprises in store at PM's 'private' dinner</b>
Onkar Singh in New Delhi | July 19, 2008 21:58 IST
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] is throwing a dinner party for the United Progressive Alliance members on the eve of the no confidence motion on Monday to keep the flock in good humour. But, interestingly, media has been denied entry to the event, to be held at the Convention Hall of Ashok Hotel in New Delhi.
A senior official at the Prime Minister's Office said it was not possible to get 450-odd media persons to the Convention Hall.
"All that would be left to write will be the menu," he said with a smile.
'It has become like a game of the mafia now'
Congress chief ministers and senior party leaders too find their names in the invitation list.
Dinner Surprise?
Congress leaders appeared much relieved on Saturday amid claims that the government has comfortable majority and would receive support from 'unexpected quarters'.
"We expect support from unexpected quarters from outside our traditional support base. We have built a cushion of surprises. There will be support from all parties, excluding the Left," All India Congress Committee General Secretary and Minister of State in PMO Prithviraj Chavan told media persons in New Delhi.
Chavan's statement which spoke of surprises meant or implied that some members of the BJP, BJD, Shiv Sena and Akali Dal could also support the government in the trust vote.
Meanwhile, party sources expressed confidence that MPs from Manipur and Nagaland could also vote for the government in the trust vote.
Additional Reportage: PTI
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The convicted 6 who may decide UPA's fate18 Jul 2008, 1234 hrs IST,TNN
Among those who hold the key to the survival or fall of the government on July 22 are six jailed MPs, some convicted on serious charges like murder, others accused of heinous crimes. Check out the men who both sides are seeking to woo to win that day.
1) Pappu Yadav alias Rajesh Ranjan
RJD, Purnea, Bihar
SENTENCED in Feb 2008 for life for murder of former CPM MLA Ajit Sarkar in 1998.
2) Suraj Bhan
LJSP, Balia, Bihar
SENTENCED To life last month for murder of a farmer in 1992.
3) Ateeq Ahmad
Phulphur, Uttar Pradesh
Charged in: 21 criminal cases, including some involving murder. One such was the murder of Bhartiya Samajwadi Party MLA Raju Pal in 2005.
4) Afzal Ansari
Samajwadi Party, Ghazipur, UP
Brother of Uttar Pradesh don Mukhtar Ansari. In jail facing charges in murder of Bhartiya Samajwadi Party MLA Krishanand Rai in 2005.
5) Umakant Yadav
BSP, Machhlishahr, Uttar Pradesh
Jailed for allegedly razing shops and houses while trying to forcibly occupy land in Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh in 2007.
6) Mohd Shahabuddin
RJD, Siwan, Bihar
Convicted in: 3 cases between March and August 2007: life term for kidnapping leading to murder of a trader in 1999, 10 yrs for attack on Siwan SP in 1996 and 2 yrs for attack on CPI(ML) office in 1998.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/The_con...how/3249392.cms
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The irony is that Left used the help of these crooks to bring in Prathiba Patil as President. Now they don't want these crooks to vote because they are crooks. <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Where's Speaker on this issue? Will he prevent them from voting?
Now here is a selfless man .. Can anybody beat this.. bolo ?? <!--emo&:tv--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tv_feliz.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tv_feliz.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->My only interest is the development of my party and any decision taken should be in the interest of the party and no amount of money can change my stand.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Â <b>
Rajnath: BJP prefers polls if Manmohan loses trust vote</b>
Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party would prefer fresh elections in the event of the government collapsing on the floor of the Lok Sabha on July 22, rather than go for a short-term alternative arrangement.
Party president Rajnath Singh said: âIf the Government falls, there should be a fresh mandate.â Asked for his views on remarks made on camera by general secretary of the Communist Party of India A.B. Bardhan that an alternative government headed by Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati could be propped up with âoutside support,â the BJP chief said âfresh elections would be in the best interests of the country.â
Some other party leaders also came out strongly against any arrangement that would lead to the formation of a government headed by Ms. Mayawati. They said that both Rajnath Singh and BJP general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Arun Jaitley had earlier categorically stated âthere was no question of the BJP tying up with the BSP in UP.â
There is also the view that supporting a government from the outside for a few months would mean that the BJP would not be able to get the full electoral advantage of the current inflation and agricultural distress.
âIt would be suicidal for the party to even think of such a move,â a senior party person said, adding that the BJP had already paid a âheavy political price in Uttar Pradeshâ for supporting her thrice as Chief Minister. Party leaders recalled that Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani âclarifiedâ comments made in Kanpur to say he had made no overture to Ms. Mayawati.
However, after the recent disclosure by Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Jaswant Singh, that he had the partyâs permission âto offer prime ministership to any leader of the United National Progressive Allianceâ last year in July ahead of the presidential contest between Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Pratibha Patil, not many strongly denied that the party was not âoffering the prime ministershipâ to some other leader to take forward its agenda of ensuring the governmentâs defeat in the trust vote.
On Sunday, BJP MPs will meet at Parliament House Annexe at 5.30 p.m. followed by a solidarity dinner hosted by the BJP for all MPs of the NDA.
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