07-21-2008, 05:48 AM
From Times of islamabad:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> NEW DELHI: The BJP-led NDA gathered on the eve of the special session of Parliament with six out of the BJP flock of 130 missing from the dinner hosted by Leader of Opposition L K Advani and at least four missing from the allies' camp.
<b>Of the six missing BJP MPs, actor-turned-politician Dharmendra is believed to be on his way back from Los Angeles where he recently underwent knee surgery. Out of the rest, BJP sources said "efforts were on" to get sulking Gujarat MPs Somabhai Patel and Babubhai Katara to vote on the party's side, though chances that they may switch camps cannot be ruled out.</b>
<b>Pattan MP Mahesh Kanoria, still in ICU after a heart ailment, is unable to travel and hence may have to stay away from the House. Karnataka MP K Manjunath, who is unwell, may also stay away. Maharshtra MP Harish Chandra Chavan is also in hospital, but he may be playing truant to avoid voting.</b>
<b>Of the NDA lot, Trinamool Congress chief and the party's only Lok Sabha MP Mamata Banerjee is in Kolkata, with indications that she might abstain from voting. Two JD(U) MPs â Ramswaroop Prasad from Nalanda and P P Koya from Lakshwadeep â stayed away while of the 12 Shiv Sena members, one was absent from the dinner.</b>
Clarifying reports that some BJD members may switch sides, party MP Tathagata Satpathy said, "MPs in our party have a one-to-one relationship with party chief Naveen Patnaik and that creates a bond that ensures stability."
Speaking at the party's parliamentary board meeting, Advani said the BJP would highlight the overall failure of the government at the special session and not only focus on the nuclear deal. Reiterating the party line on the deal, Advani said, "Unlike the Left, BJP is against the deal in its present form since it puts a cap on further testing, but is not averse to strategic ties with the US."
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So how does this all effect the voting strength. Clear instructions should be given to ensure that those found shirking will be taken are off just as those voting will be rewarded.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> NEW DELHI: The BJP-led NDA gathered on the eve of the special session of Parliament with six out of the BJP flock of 130 missing from the dinner hosted by Leader of Opposition L K Advani and at least four missing from the allies' camp.
<b>Of the six missing BJP MPs, actor-turned-politician Dharmendra is believed to be on his way back from Los Angeles where he recently underwent knee surgery. Out of the rest, BJP sources said "efforts were on" to get sulking Gujarat MPs Somabhai Patel and Babubhai Katara to vote on the party's side, though chances that they may switch camps cannot be ruled out.</b>
<b>Pattan MP Mahesh Kanoria, still in ICU after a heart ailment, is unable to travel and hence may have to stay away from the House. Karnataka MP K Manjunath, who is unwell, may also stay away. Maharshtra MP Harish Chandra Chavan is also in hospital, but he may be playing truant to avoid voting.</b>
<b>Of the NDA lot, Trinamool Congress chief and the party's only Lok Sabha MP Mamata Banerjee is in Kolkata, with indications that she might abstain from voting. Two JD(U) MPs â Ramswaroop Prasad from Nalanda and P P Koya from Lakshwadeep â stayed away while of the 12 Shiv Sena members, one was absent from the dinner.</b>
Clarifying reports that some BJD members may switch sides, party MP Tathagata Satpathy said, "MPs in our party have a one-to-one relationship with party chief Naveen Patnaik and that creates a bond that ensures stability."
Speaking at the party's parliamentary board meeting, Advani said the BJP would highlight the overall failure of the government at the special session and not only focus on the nuclear deal. Reiterating the party line on the deal, Advani said, "Unlike the Left, BJP is against the deal in its present form since it puts a cap on further testing, but is not averse to strategic ties with the US."
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
So how does this all effect the voting strength. Clear instructions should be given to ensure that those found shirking will be taken are off just as those voting will be rewarded.