2009 Poll Prospects And Alignments

[acharya]

<b> Congress confident of majority</b>

Gargi Parsai

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday expressed the confidence that the United Progressive Alliance government would prove its majority on the floor of the House.

“We are very confident that in any test on the floor of the House, we will come out with flying colours. Not only the UPA will remain intact but the smaller groups and parties will also support the government on the nuclear deal issue,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi told journalists here.

Mr. Ravi was one of those who attended a meeting of senior leaders at the residence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi soon after the Left announced its decision to withdraw support to the government. Others who attended the meeting were Pranab Mukherjee, A.K. Antony, Prithiviraj Chavan and Ms. Gandhi’s Political Secretary Ahmed Patel.

“We will review the situation after the Prime Minister returns from the G8 meeting,” Mr. Ravi said.

The party has been in touch with parties outside the UPA, including the Rashtriya Lok Dal, independents and unattached members. It was confident of mustering enough support with the help of the Samajwadi Party.

Mr. Ravi said the Left parties must realise the “political implications” of their voting with the BJP.

According to senior leader Kapil Sibal, by commenting on the International Atomic Energy Agency on Monday (July 7), the Prime Minister had only complied with the request of the Left parties to reply by July 7. “So why are they unhappy?”

Congress spokesman Manish Tewari told journalists that the UPA was united and the government was stable. “The government will prove that it has the numbers in Parliament.” \