10-14-2007, 12:52 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>What Left couldn't do in three months, allies did in no time</b>
Pioneer.com
Akhilesh Suman | New Delhi
Analysis
For the past three months, the Left parties waged a high pitched battle to stop the India-US civil nuclear agreement, but neither the Congress nor Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yielded to their pressure. But the crunch came when the UPA allies threatened to desert the Congress. The Government resolve to push ahead with the deal was broken within hours.
Jittery over the prospect of a snap poll, the unambiguous announcement by the Prime Minister and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday that there is no chance of mid-term polls and the Government would run its full term has come as a big relief for the UPA allies.
Even before the Prime Minister and Sonia's formal declaration that the nuke deal could wait, the allies had been conveyed that the IAEA and NSG negotiations would be delayed by three months. But now that the both have gone on record, the allies feel the crisis was over.
From day one after the Left waved red flag on the deal,<b> the UPA allies were uncomfortable about supporting the deal because of its adverse political ramifications on their vote bank, specially the Muslims.</b> Under pressure and persuasion of the Congress leadership, they did issue half-hearted declaration of support for the deal. But they were cautious not to attack the Left parties at any stage.
Also, there was a feeling in the allies that the crisis with the Left could be resolved and the Government would survive. But the scene began to change after it became clear that the Left meant business and it was determined to withdraw support if the Government did not blink.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad took the lead and his party's national executive passed a resolution in support of the deal but with a rider that the party would set up an internal committee to study the deal.
This was a signal to the Congress that if it was not convenient to Lalu, he could come out in open to oppose the deal.
In the October 5 UPA-Left meeting,<b> Lalu clearly told External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, "Address the concerns of the Left, I am with them."</b>
RJD sources said that <b>Lalu went to the extent of asking Mukherjee whether he should prepare the next Rail budget or not.</b>
For Lalu who faced the ruling NDA in Bihar, the mid-term poll prospect was far from rosy. <b>Just over two years in office, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar does not face any real anti-incumbency at this stage, and with LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan not willing to align with him, Lalu had everything to lose in case of a snap poll. </b>
Even NCP chief and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar were apprehensive of going to the polls because of farm sector crisis and continuing suicide by the farmers. Sources said Pawar was throughout in touch with the Left parties and told the <b>Congress leadership that fighting election on the issue of nuclear deal was a losing game not only for the Congress but also for the allies. </b>
<b>DMK chief Karunanidhi was also restless. His first priority seems to be to firmly install his sons and daughters at the Centre as well as in Tamil Nadu</b>.
<b>Paswan was in a real mess. While his voice was not so important in the UPA, he would have to take the burden of nuclear deal on which he had nothing to contribute. </b>
In the October 9 meeting of the UPA-Left too, Lalu and Pawar took a firm stand and persuaded Mukherjee not to go ahead with the deal without sorting out the differences with the Left parties.
Sources said that after Sonia's hard-hitting statement in Jhajjar, the UPA allies took it as a call of mid-term polls without consulting them. <b>Lalu talked to Sonia over phone the same night and Sonia later clarified that her barbs were not aimed at the Left.</b>
Both Lalu and Pawar conveyed to Sonia that they did not share 'Congress' euphoria over a mid-term poll.
According to DMK sources, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi too communicated a similar message to the Congress leadership.
"We have to be ready with a solution. And a mid-term poll is not a solution to the present crisis," DMK chief reportedly told the Congress high command. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Pioneer.com
Akhilesh Suman | New Delhi
Analysis
For the past three months, the Left parties waged a high pitched battle to stop the India-US civil nuclear agreement, but neither the Congress nor Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yielded to their pressure. But the crunch came when the UPA allies threatened to desert the Congress. The Government resolve to push ahead with the deal was broken within hours.
Jittery over the prospect of a snap poll, the unambiguous announcement by the Prime Minister and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday that there is no chance of mid-term polls and the Government would run its full term has come as a big relief for the UPA allies.
Even before the Prime Minister and Sonia's formal declaration that the nuke deal could wait, the allies had been conveyed that the IAEA and NSG negotiations would be delayed by three months. But now that the both have gone on record, the allies feel the crisis was over.
From day one after the Left waved red flag on the deal,<b> the UPA allies were uncomfortable about supporting the deal because of its adverse political ramifications on their vote bank, specially the Muslims.</b> Under pressure and persuasion of the Congress leadership, they did issue half-hearted declaration of support for the deal. But they were cautious not to attack the Left parties at any stage.
Also, there was a feeling in the allies that the crisis with the Left could be resolved and the Government would survive. But the scene began to change after it became clear that the Left meant business and it was determined to withdraw support if the Government did not blink.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad took the lead and his party's national executive passed a resolution in support of the deal but with a rider that the party would set up an internal committee to study the deal.
This was a signal to the Congress that if it was not convenient to Lalu, he could come out in open to oppose the deal.
In the October 5 UPA-Left meeting,<b> Lalu clearly told External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, "Address the concerns of the Left, I am with them."</b>
RJD sources said that <b>Lalu went to the extent of asking Mukherjee whether he should prepare the next Rail budget or not.</b>
For Lalu who faced the ruling NDA in Bihar, the mid-term poll prospect was far from rosy. <b>Just over two years in office, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar does not face any real anti-incumbency at this stage, and with LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan not willing to align with him, Lalu had everything to lose in case of a snap poll. </b>
Even NCP chief and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar were apprehensive of going to the polls because of farm sector crisis and continuing suicide by the farmers. Sources said Pawar was throughout in touch with the Left parties and told the <b>Congress leadership that fighting election on the issue of nuclear deal was a losing game not only for the Congress but also for the allies. </b>
<b>DMK chief Karunanidhi was also restless. His first priority seems to be to firmly install his sons and daughters at the Centre as well as in Tamil Nadu</b>.
<b>Paswan was in a real mess. While his voice was not so important in the UPA, he would have to take the burden of nuclear deal on which he had nothing to contribute. </b>
In the October 9 meeting of the UPA-Left too, Lalu and Pawar took a firm stand and persuaded Mukherjee not to go ahead with the deal without sorting out the differences with the Left parties.
Sources said that after Sonia's hard-hitting statement in Jhajjar, the UPA allies took it as a call of mid-term polls without consulting them. <b>Lalu talked to Sonia over phone the same night and Sonia later clarified that her barbs were not aimed at the Left.</b>
Both Lalu and Pawar conveyed to Sonia that they did not share 'Congress' euphoria over a mid-term poll.
According to DMK sources, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi too communicated a similar message to the Congress leadership.
"We have to be ready with a solution. And a mid-term poll is not a solution to the present crisis," DMK chief reportedly told the Congress high command. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->