2009 Poll Prospects And Alignments

[Guest]

Please provide link or source

[acharya]

<b>The BJP and the cynical plot</b>

Neena Vyas

In one stroke, the party degraded the Prime Ministerial position as well as the office of President.

The disclosure by the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Jaswant Singh, on Saturday that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance was ready to offer the prime ministership of the country to “any candidate of the United National Progressive Alliance’s choice” in the summer of last year has surely come as a shock to all who care about upholding constitutional values.

It now seems there was more to this cynical plot to destabilise a government legitimately elected and sworn in to office in May 2004. It was not a well-kept secret that the BJP and its NDA partners were simply not ready to accept the defeat at the hustings, certain in their belief that their high-decibel India Shining campaign was bringing them back to office. From day one of the new government various plots were hatched.

Immediately after the results were out some senior BJP leaders declared that they would shave off their heads and eat “only chanas [gram]” if Congress president Sonia Gandhi were to become prime minister. It was an open threat to the Constitution for there was no legal way for them to stop her from assuming that office. In the event, however, Ms Gandhi herself showed reluctance to assume the prime minister’s office and Manmohan Singh became the United Progressive Alliance’s choice for the top job.

There were other strategies the BJP adopted, among them stalling Parliament on the flimsiest of excuses and threatening to initiate proceedings to remove the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, charging him with political bias.

Then came the presidential election. Initially, the BJP said it would like the then President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, to get a second term in office. When the Congress showed its determination not to disturb a precedent set after the first President of India Rajendra Prasad got a second term in office and no other president was accommodated in this manner, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, then Vice-President, jumped into the contest knowing very well that the NDA simply did not have the strength to get him elected. A most vicious campaign followed with a senior BJP leader who was a minister in the Vajpayee government issuing a booklet making all kinds of charges against Pratibha Patil (who was elected President in July 2007).

It was during the run-up to this election that a powerful faction within the BJP — it was this faction that was most active in maligning Ms Patil — came up with a plan to somehow get Mr. Shekhawat elected and then topple the Manmohan Singh government.

On Saturday, no one less than Mr. Jaswant Singh, in the presence of the Leader of the Opposition, L.K. Advani, admitted to the plot. Mr. Singh said that he had been “authorised and deputed” by the BJP-backed NDA “to meet leaders of the UNPA.” He further clarified that he met AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa at Maurya Sheraton Hotel in Delhi and conveyed to her that if the UNPA were to commit its votes for Mr. Shekhawat, the NDA would back for the prime minister’s post “any candidate of the UNPA’s choice.” He further added that he also met other UNPA leaders individually.

It was clear to all that the “offer” in fact amounted to an offer to Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh as his was the only constituent of the UNPA with a double-digit presence in the Lok Sabha.

Mr. Jaswant Singh’s startling disclosure, it seems, was less than voluntary. For a couple of days before this the BJP had been denying a statement attributed to SP leader Amar Singh that the BJP had offered prime ministership to his party president Mulayam Singh. BJP’s spokespersons had cleared with Jaswant Singh before they went to the press to describe Mr. Amar Singh’s charge as a “figment of his wild imagination.” So, why did Mr. Jaswant Singh choose to come clean a couple of days later?

There are reports coming from political circles that Mr. Amar Singh let it be known to Mr. Jaswant Singh that if he did not own up in public what he had indeed offered in June-July 2007, he would release to the press evidence of that meeting and that offer. Some BJP leaders told The Hindu that this was a possibility since Mr. Amar Singh had a passion for “tapes.”

Top sources in the BJP pointed out there were voices within the party during that presidential contest warning that the anti-Pratibha Patil tirade was being taken too far. But there were others who felt this was the right time to bring down the government. A senior BJP leader confessed in private that the view was Mr. Shekhawat would win the contest and become President. Dr. Manmohan Singh would either resign or the Opposition would make sufficient noise to prevent the government from functioning. With Mr. Shekhawat in Rashtrapati Bhawan things could be managed in a way that would ensure the UPA term was cut short. The UNPA would then claim to form the next government with the full backing of the BJP-led NDA.

This also brings to mind the episode in 1996 when a Vajpayee government first took office. Both Mr. Vajpayee and L.K. Advani had issued a joint appeal asking anyone, including Congressmen, to join the new government. It was an open call to defection. However, this government was not able to get even one independent MP and it lasted just 13 days.

The cynicism with which some BJP leaders are admitting to all this is quite scary. Not many in the party are able to see that what Mr. Jaswant Singh did that day was offer the Prime Minister’s Office as a bribe in return for the favour of votes in a presidential election. In one stroke, the BJP had degraded, as it has never been done before, both the Prime Ministerial position as well as the office of President of India.

[acharya]

BREAKING NEWS:

Left to announce withdrawal of support to UPA shortly.

Formal announcement is expected shortly.

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?...ess=1&id=212132

<b>
Left parties may pull the plug today</b>

Statesman News Service
NEW DELHI/KOLKATA, July 7: Incensed at the Prime Minister’s announcement that the government was approaching the IAEA for a safeguards agreement within hours of the government fixing the UPA-Left committee meeting on 10 July, the Left parties are all set to withdraw their outside support to the UPA government tomorrow.
The Left parties today received a reply to their 4 July letter from the UPA-Left committee convener and foreign minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, stating that the government was ready to discuss with the Left the “draft” safeguards agreement with the IAEA, and invited them for a meeting of the committee on 10 July. Soon after they received the letter, there were reports that the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, had on board his flight to Japan to attend the G-8 summit told reporters that the government would shortly move to the IAEA for the safeguards agreement en route to operationalising the Indo-US nuclear deal.
The Left leaders said their scheduled meeting tomorrow to discuss the government’s reply would take note of the situation and they could withdraw support tomorrow itself. To complete the formality early in the day, the Left has advanced its meeting from 4 p.m. to 11.30 a.m.
The Left leaders said their decision to withdraw support to the government remained unchanged if the government decided to go ahead with the nuclear deal. Now that the Prime Minister himself had confirmed the decision in no uncertain terms, the Left would also announce its response as soon as possible. They said the 10 July meeting of the UPA-Left committee was meaningless and expressed doubts on whether it would actually take place. Mr Mukherjee’s letter, they said, did not respond to the issues raised there but suggested another meeting of the joint committee.

The Left leaders, Mr Prakash Karat (CPI-M), Mr AB Bardhan (CPI), Mr Debabrata Biswas (FB) and Mr TJ Chandrachoodan (RSP) had wanted the government to clarify “definitely whether the government is proceeding to seek the approval of the safeguards agreement by the Board of Governors of the IAEA”. Seeking a reply by 7 July, the Left had said its query arose as several ministers and leaders of the ruling coalition had said that the Centre was going ahead with the nuclear deal.
Earlier in the day, fb general secretary Mr Debabrata Biswas said the Left parties had decided to pull the plug on 10 July when they wanted to submit to the President a letter indicating they were withdrawing support to the UPA government. RSP leader Mr Abani Roy said: “The Left has to take a strong stand now.” CPI leader Mr AB Bardhan said: “We will decide tomorrow”.

[acharya]

<b>Left to withdraw support today, tell President tomorrow</b>
8 Jul, 2008, 0532 hrs IST, ET Bureau

NEW DELHI: With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday formally announcing his government’s plans to put the nuclear deal negotiations on the fast track, the Left has decided to announce withdrawal of support for the ruling side on Tuesday. The Left will convey its decision to the President on Wednesday.

The Left, which has been changing its strategy by the minute, seems to have concluded that its credibility would be further battered if it waits till July 10 meeting of the UPA-Left co-ordination mechanism for taking the extreme step. The rent-a-quote crowd in the two main Communist parties have virtually made the Left’s position untenable by their threats through television channels and subsequent retreat.

The ‘one step forward two steps back’ spectacle was on display even on Monday evening when its leaders swallowed their own tough sound bytes and said the Left would wait till the next meeting of the co-ordination panel. But things changed when television channels aired the prime ministerial assertions. The Left, which was to meet on Tuesday evening, rescheduled its meeting to the morning. Within minutes of the Prime Minister’s statements from Japan, the Left started seeking an appointment with President Pratibha Patil.

Earlier in the day, Mr Pranab Mukherjee refrained from providing any hints about the government’s plans. In a letter to the Left leaders Pranab Mukherjee proposed a meeting of the co-ordination mechanism on July 10. “We are now ready with a draft report for consideration of the committee. A meeting to consider the draft is being scheduled for July 10. kindly make it convenient to attend. Early submission of the report by the committee would enable government to take into account the committee’s findings,” Mr Mukherjee said. This evasive response of the government had prompted the Left leaders to wait till the July 10 meeting.

Left leaders said that after the prime minister’s statement, the meeting has become irrelevant and that a decision to pull out will be taken at the meeting of Left parties. “The prime minister has made such a categorical statement.

It means that the Left has no other option but to withdraw support,” CPI’s D Raja said. In a strongly-worded statement, RSP general secretary T J Chandrachoodan said “no prime minister has so far made a declaration affecting the sovereignty, integrity and independent foreign policy of the nation outside Indian soil. He has done this without the approval of Parliament and while a dialogue is on between the UPA and the Left.” What added to the Left’s ire was that the government was inviting them to attend a meeting of the committee just as the prime minister was making the announcement.

But the Left’s attempts to paint the UPA as evil may not succeed as parties like SP have begun saying that the Left will have to own up its four years of association with the Congress. The propaganda machinery of the Left may not be able to convince the electorate about its outrage against the Manmohan Singh government as Left leaders have been consistently claiming that they control the levers of power at the Centre.

[acharya]

They have withdrawn support to UPA.

They have pulled out of Govt.

[acharya]

<b>
Left pulls out support; BJP demands Floor test</b>
New Delhi, Tue, 08 Jul 2008 NI Wire

The Left taking stern action ended the long running drama Tuesday by announcing its withdrawal of support from the UPA government in the wake of the government decision to go ahead with the IAEA and thus the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Tomorrow all the four Left parties would meet President Pratibha Patil and submit the “letter of withdrawal” formally.


The decision was taken at the meeting of the Left's coordination committee held at the party's headquarter. All the four heads of the Left-Prakash Karat of CPM, A B Bardhan of CPI, Debabrata Viswas of Forward Block and the T J Chandrachoodan of RSP were present in the meeting.

Karat said the letter of “withdrawal of support” has been sent to the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in which the reason for the pulling support has been mentioned as after the Prime Minister's declaration from Japan to go with IAEA at any cost has left no option before the party except to pull support.

"In view of the PM's announcement, the time has come to withdraw our support," Karat said, reading out a letter sent by Left parties to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

In the letter the Left parties also mentioned that there is no use of holding UPA-Left coordination committee meeting scheduled on July 10.

Mr. Karat pointing out the discussions, which was taken in the sixth meeting of the UPA-Left Coordination Committee on the deal last year, where it was decided that the government will make available the text of the safeguards agreement negotiated with the IAEA Secretariat to the Committee, but till date no such draft has been provided to the Left parties. He said, without the text, the Committee cannot come to any findings and therefore there is no need for further meeting of the UPA-Left Committee.

Soon after the Left's decision of withdrawing support, the Samajwadi Party came for rescue of the government. The party held a press conference and the party head Mulayam Singh vowed “unconditional support to the government.” Mr. Yadav said, “At his parliamentary party meeting, they have decided that his party will give unconditional support to the government.”

He also said that his party supports the nuclear deal, and would mobilise its members to help people in eradicating their apprehension on the deal and tell them its benefits.

Few hours after the Left parites' expected decision of withdrawal of support to the government in the first half of day on Tuesday, the chief Opposition Party, BJP has asked the Prime Minister to seek vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha.
<b>
The National president of the Bhartiya Janata Party dubbed the UPA-Left alliance as “unnatural” and said the disintegration of the present ruling coalition government was quite obvious. In fact, the “divorce” should have been quite early. “Both Congress and Left have lost credibility. Now the government is in minority and the Prime Minister should seek a Vote of Confidence,” said Rajnath Singh.</b>

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has called an emergency meeting of all its constituents tomorrow comprising all its chief ministers tomorrow for a meeting here.

Meanwhile, the Congress leaders congregated at UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's residence and expressed firm hope that the government was stable and it would not face any trouble in passing the floor test.

[acharya]

<b>1999 was a mistake for 'us': Amar Singh to NDTV </b>

Barkha Dutt
Sunday, July 6, 2008 (New Delhi)
For the first time, Samajwadi leader Amar Singh made a categorical public commitment that his party would vote with the Congress during a vote of confidence.

However, the support of the SP is not going to come cheap.

Amar Singh has targeted his criticism sharply at two Union Ministers, Murli Deora and P Chidambram.

In an interview with NDTV, he included Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, accusing him of helping the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.

Amar Singh admitted that abandoning the Congress in 1999 had been a mistake, both his and the Congress party's and said he had conveyed this to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

[ramana]

SP is going to remake INC with this support charade. After this there wont be a need for INC to exist. Amar Singh has just realised how the great opportunity was lost in 1999. But then his backers didnt either!
The big mistake is to confuse Amar Singh for his backers. Its the backers purpose that has to be understood and not that of the 'mask".

[Guest]

Amar Singh is singing for Reliance, which means whole 9 yard of Unkle and oil cartel.
It will not go well with Indian Shia and SP will lose them.

[Guest]

<b>Govt to seek trust vote before Aug 11: Pranab</b>

India's foreign minister said the government will go to the IAEA and seek its approval for the nuclear deal after seeking a confidence vote in Parliament.

<b>Left-UPA marriage finally ends, BJP wants trust vote</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Political analysts said the decision of the 61 Left MPs would bring down the multi-party UPA's strength in the 545-seat Lok Sabha to 226. This would go up to 265 with the support of the Samajwadi Party's 39 MPs, but leave it still seven short of the 272 MPs needed for majority support. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Bribe money will come handy to buy these guys after selling India.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The ruling side is banking on three independents-- Thupstan Chhewang from Jammu and Kashmir, Harish Nagpal from Uttar Pradesh and Charenamei Mani from Manipur.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I hope Muslim MPs of SP, RJD and LPJ ditch them.
What about PMK and DMK?
DMK can also pull rug.

[Shambhu]

Ailing for long, Cong-Left alliance dies

Nidhi Sharma/ PNS | New Delhi/ Lucknow
<b>Number crunching begins
Trust vote before IAEA: Cong</b>

The number game has begun. As the Left Front finally delivered on its threat of withdrawing support to the UPA Government, the Congress opened back channels to woo as many MPs as possible to help Prime Minister Manmohan Singh prove his majority in Parliament.

As it goes looking for MPs, the UPA does not have much time on hand. The Government has decided to convene a brief session of Parliament within a fortnight to take up the confidence vote before the IAEA Board of Governors meeting on July 28.

The urgency within the Government was also necessitated by reports that a section of the Samajwadi Party MPs were threatening to revolt against the party's decision to support the Government on the issue of India-US civil nuclear agreement.

As soon as the Left declared its decision to withdraw support on Tuesday morning, Congress president Sonia Gandhi called a meeting of senior Ministers at 10 Janpath and directed them to drum up support from all quarters. Minus Left, the UPA has a strength of 226 MPs in the Lok Sabha. To pass the vote of confidence in the 543-member (two seats vacant) lower House, the Government would need the votes of 272 members.

The intra-party development in the SP is a cause of worry for both Mulayam Singh Yadav and the Congress leadership. Despite obtaining certification from former President APJ Abdul Kalam and justifying its U-turn for the sake of "secularism", a section of the party MPs are not willing to accept the new reality so easily.

At least 10 MPs did not attend the SP parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday in Delhi. Reading out the party's resolution after the meeting, SP general secretary Amar Singh said the party MPs not only unanimously came out in support of the party's stand on the deal but also welcomed it.

A senior party leader said that out of the absentees, four were no more part of the SP, although as per parliamentary records they had won the 2004 general elections on SP symbol.

The four MPs include Raj Babbar, who left the party in 2006 and forged an alliance with former PM VP Singh. The other is Beni Prasad Verma, who also floated his own party last year and even contested the Assembly election. He is still an MP from Kaiserganj, from where he was elected on SP ticket.

Ateeq Ahmad, the MP from Phulpur, was expelled from the SP earlier this year, after he was arrested by Delhi Police, and has several criminal cases pending against him. The fourth MP is Munawwar Hasan from Muzaffarnagar, who had left SP and joined Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal.

The remaining six MPs could not come to the meeting due to "unavoidable reasons", party sources said. These were Rewati Raman Singh, from Allahabad, senior leader Mohan Singh and MP from Deoria who is unwell, Radhey Shyam Kori, the MP from Ghatampur is also unwell, while Gonda MP Kirti Vardhan Singh could not come to the meeting due to a bereavement in the family.

Afzal Ansari, Ghazipur MP, is currently in jail in connection with the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai. Rawat was the sixth absentee from the meeting.

In a clear sign that all was not well within the party, Mohanlalganj MP Jai Prakash and Muzaffarnagar MP Munawwar Hasan publicly denounced the nuclear deal and vowed to vote against the UPA Government.

"The Parliamentary Board meeting was a farce. When everything had been decided earlier, there was no need to call a meeting. Mulayam Singh Yadav is trying to give a democratic cover to the party's decision whereas everyone knows why he is supporting the Congress," Rawat said.

He even added that around a dozen MPs were ready to cross the fence, but did not elaborate.

Rawat is the second MP in the last three days to revolt against the SP leadership. Munawwar Hasan, the party MP from Morna in Muzaffarnagar, has also slammed the party leadership for supporting the "anti-Muslim" deal.

Insiders pitching against Mulayam said SP MPs Shafiq-ur Rahman Barq, Kaji Rashid Masood, Chandra Bhushan Singh, Raj Narain Bhudolia and Afzal Ansari were waiting for an appropriate time to cross over to the BSP. Known rebels like Beni Prasad Verma, Atiq Ahmad and Raj Babbar were also prepared to give a further jolt to Mulayam, it was alleged.

According to sources, the fence-sitters within the SP are keen to switch their allegiance towards the BSP for a brighter future in the next elections. Some of them are believed to be in constant touch with Nasimuddin Siddiqui to try their luck with the blue brigade.

Sources in the Samajwadi Party claim that Rawat, who is a staunch supporter of Naresh Agarwal, who recently deserted the SP to join the BSP, was likely to be denied a ticket from Mohanlalganj constituency as Yadav was likely to give a ticket to Sushila Saroj from the constituency.

But Mulayam Singh Yadav rubbished reports that Muslim MPs of the party were opposed to the nuclear deal and paraded them before media. Trying to counter the voices within the party that the nuke deal could antagonise the Muslims, Yadav said the Muslims including in Deoband, Saharanpur, Varanasi, Kanpur and Bareilly have welcomed the deal.

"The India-US nuclear deal has the backing of scientists, intellectuals and experts," Yadav said, pointing out that the party leadership had consulted former President APJ Abdul Kalam in this regard.

Yadav termed as "figment of imagination" suggestions that the SP was in the race for the post of the Lok Sabha Speaker in case incumbent Somnath Chatterjee resigns.

The party also assured Sonia Gandhi that its MPs would be on board. Party leader Amar Singh met the Congress president on Tuesday evening and conveyed the SP's decision to support the Government. Emerging from the meeting, he said: "It is neither a Hindu deal nor a Muslim one. It is in the interest of the nation... There will be no difficulty in the maths of Parliament."

The SP has not technically withdrawn support from the UPA as it had not given a letter to this effect to the President. Singh said: "But we do not want any misunderstanding. So we have sought an appointment with President Pratibha Patil to give our support to UPA."

<b>Sources said there was strong possibility that with Mayawati offering all sorts of 'incentives, including assured ticket for Lok Sabha elections, at least half-a-dozen SP MPs may defy the party whip and oppose the Government. This has revived the memories of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee losing the trust vote by a single vote in 1998. </b>

Congress sources said the alliance is now looking at vote of confidence as a show of strength. It is wooing all possible parties. Talks are on with Janata Dal (Secular) that has three MPs, Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal with three MPs, National Conference with two, Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and single members of Bharatiya Navshakti Party (BNP), National Loktantric Party (NLP), Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) and Mizo National Front (MNF).

The Government is likely to face the floor test next week. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs met on Tuesday evening to decide on the monsoon session, which would be convened on August 11. After the meeting, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said: "Regular monsoon session will take place but because of political developments -- like our supporters have decided to withdraw support and they are meeting the President on Wednesday -- we have decided, I talked to the Prime Minister over phone and with his approval I am saying this that we will seek a vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha as soon as we receive the formal communication from the Rashtrapati Bhawan... This session will be called a short session of Lok Sabha."

Mukherjee said the Government would not go to the IAEA board of governors for approval till it has proved majority. "Surely on an important international agreement we cannot bind the Government if we lose majority... We would like to seek Board of Governors approval the moment we get a vote of confidence," he said.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?m...t&counter_img=1

[acharya]

<b>
Another MP revolts against Mulayam</b>

Atiq Khan

LUCKNOW: Another SP MP, Jai Prakash Rawat, from Mohanlalganj (Reserved), on Tuesday revolted against the leader, Mulayam Singh’s decision to support the UPA on the issue of India-U.S. nuclear deal. On Monday, Munawwar Hasan, Muzaffarnagar MP, opposed Mr. Singh’s decision.

Mr. Rawat told a press conference here that he would defy the party whip if the UPA government sought a trust vote. He was among a dozen MPs who reportedly stayed away from an SP parliamentary party meeting, held in New Delhi earlier in the day, where Mr. Singh pledged support to the government.

Mr. Rawat claimed that these MPs, including Muslim members, were unhappy with the nuclear deal, and would come out in the open when a trial of strength took place in the House. But he named only Mr. Hasan when he was asked how many MPs from the minority community were in the rebel group.Mohan Singh (Deoria), Reoti Raman Singh (Allahabad), Ramji Lal Suman (Firozabad) and Kunwar Sarvraj Singh (Aonla) are among the other MPs who were reportedly absent at the meeting. SP sources, however, claimed that they had sent prior information about their absence and ruled out the possibility of their deserting Mr. Mulayam Singh.

Mr. Rawat denied that he was in touch with Chief Minister Mayawati of the Bahujan Samaj Party.

The SP has 39 MPs in the Lok Sabha, all from U.P. But its actual strength is less than that. Raj Babbar, MP from Agra, and Beni Prasad Verma (Kaiserganj), who earlier rebelled against the leadership, left the party in 2006-2007, but they are still technically counted as party MPs. Two other MPs Atiq Ahmed (Phulpur) and Afzal Ansari (Ghazipur) are in jail on murder charges in two cases. The Congress, however, is not perturbed at the possibility of the SP rebels voting against the nuclear deal. While Mr. Verma campaigned for the Congress in the Assembly polls and is understood to be seeking party ticket to contest from Gonda in the next Lok Sabha election, Mr. Babbar has reportedly been approached by the Congress to contest from Fatehpur Sikri near Agra.

“They may not be in the SP, but will support the Congress on the nuclear deal,” said a senior party leader.

[acharya]

<b>
BJP discusses strategy</b>

Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI: In the wake of the Left parties’ decision to withdraw support to the United Progressive Alliance government, the Bharatiya Janata Party, at a meeting of senior party leaders on Tuesday, discussed the strategy to be adopted in the Lok Sabha.

The meeting, convened by party president Rajnath Singh, was held at the residence of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani.

A resolution adopted at the meeting demanded an immediate session of Parliament and a trust vote by the government. It also said the government should not approach the International Atomic Energy Agency for India-specific safeguards before demonstrating its majority in the Lok Sabha.

A meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders has been convened on Wednesday evening where the BJP leadership is to discuss the party’s parliamentary strategy with allies.

The first task of the party managers is to keep the NDA intact when it comes to voting against the government. The second will be to try and shore up strength for the inevitable floor test by talking to some smaller parties with whom the BJP hopes to have alliance ahead of the next Lok Sabha election.

Mr. Rajnath Singh described the alliance between the Left and the UPA as “unholy and unnatural.” The Left decision was “belated,” he said adding that the Left had “intentionally and deliberately” delayed a decision to withdraw support.BJP strategists said they would prefer a simple one-line trust vote, than a vote on the nuclear deal.

The trust vote would give the BJP an opportunity to attack the government on rising prices and agricultural crisis , worsening internal security scenario and revoking the decision on allotment of land to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board.

The BJP would not like to expose any cracks in the NDA on the question of the nuclear deal after its oldest ally, the Shiv Sena, publicly declared through its party organ Saamna that the deal was in national interest.

There is also an opinion within the BJP that it would be best if the deal goes through during the UPA regime.

[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.” \

[acharya]

<b>
Still time left to safeguard unity: Karunanidhi
</b>
Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Reacting to the decision of the Left parties to withdraw support to the UPA government, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday said there was still time to safeguard the unity and integrity of the country.

“[There is still time to] give up the nuclear deal. [There is also time to] consider that there is no need to give it up [the nuclear deal],” he said in response to a question. Asked if he had belief or he had desired that the Left would support the UPA after having withdrawn support, Mr. Karunanidhi said: “I have the desire.” Mr. Karunanidhi ruled out a trip to New Delhi at this juncture and said that he did not consider it necessary.

In a statement earlier, Mr. Karunanidhi said that safeguarding the country was much more important than the pride of movements, adding that this was the appeal that he would make on the issue.

He was aware that the leaders of the Central government and the Left parties were acutely aware of the negative outcomes in a situation like this.
“Not upset or angry”

Answering questions from journalists, Mr. Karunanidhi said that he was saddened over the development. But he was not upset or angry with any party at a personal level. CPI (M) general secretary Prakash Karat had called him around 1 p.m. to convey the decision of the Left parties, he added.

Asked what he had said in response, Mr. Karunanidhi said: “Whatever has happened, has happened. But we should not give room to communal violence.”

Mr. Karat responded by saying that he accepted that thought, Mr. Karunanidhi said.

[Capt M Kumar]

<!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> Pune, July 9: The Shiv Sena on Wednesday said that instead of opting for the jugglery of numbers to save the UPA government, Congress should go in for fresh polls following withdrawal of support by the Left parties.

"Notwithstanding the SP backing, Congress will need to garner support of 4-5 additional MPs to save the government in the floor test. The prevalent situation has already triggered in horse-trading making strange bed-fellows in the politics," the editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana said.
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/bS...-game-b/333361/

[acharya]

<b>Left meets President, withdraws support to UPA government</b>
July 09, 2008 12:15 IST
Last Updated: July 09, 2008 12:46 IST
The Left parties on Wednesday withdrew support to the United Progressive Alliance government.

Leaders of the four Left parties, led by Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Prakash Karat, handed over letters of withdrawal of support to the four-year-old UPA government to President Pratibha Patil [Images] just after noon.

The four Left parties have 59 members in the Lok Sabha.

"We have met the President and have given her a letter on behalf of the four Left parties withdrawing support to the UPA government," Karat told reporters.

He said the four Left parties have also given a separate letter asking the President to convene a session of the Lok Sabha and direct Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] to seek a trust vote.

Following the withdrawal of support by the Left parties the strength of the ruling coalition has been reduced to 230.

Samajwadi Party, which has 39 MPs in the Lok Sabha, has announced support to the government, which still leaves the ruling UPA three members short of majority.

UPA managers are claiming that as of now the government could count on the support of at least 273 members in the Lok Sabha, which currently has 543 members. There are two vacancies.

A confident Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, whose announcement that India will very soon approach the International Atomic Energy Agency for the safeguards agreement triggered the Left's break up, had said the Left's decision will "not affect the stability of the government."

The talk of unease among some MPs in the Samajwadi Party in joining hands with the Congress has triggered speculation that the party may not have the backing of all the 39 MPs. But SP leader Amar Singh claimed all the members will vote for the government.

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar [Images] and Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav claimed that the UPA has numbers on its side to win a confidence vote.

The ruling side is banking on three independents -- Thupstan Chhewang from Jammu and Kashmir [Images], Harish Nagpal from Uttar Pradesh and Charenamei Mani from Manipur.

The three-member Rashtriya Lol Dal is also being seen as a supporter of the ruling side with Ajit Singh having a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi [Images] sometime back.

Congress is also hopeful that former prime minister H D Deve Gowda's Janata Dal-Secular, which has three MPs may vote for the government.

Another fallout of the break in ties between the UPA and the Left parties will be the exit of Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee from the post. Chatterjee is a CPM member of Parliament.

[Guest]

Now who will be speaker, Sonia herself or some dummy will get position.
DMK is unpredictable and Gowda will get another chance to make some extra bucks.

[Guest]

<b>Samajwadi MP says 7 will vote against UPA</b>
so now SP is with 31.

[Guest]

Somnath Chatterjee doesn't have to resign from the speaker's post. And if he doesn't resign by himself then a majority vote in LS will have to be taken to remove him. But that vote is unlikely, and not possible before the trust vote.

LF would like to keep somnath chatterjee in the chair for now. In the current climate the speaker's post has lot of powers. If some parties like SP have rebel MPs that vote against the party whip, then the decision on their disqualification etc rests with the speaker. Somnath Chatterjee can just sit on the question of disqualification of such members for a year.

So, highly unlikely that LF will allow Somnath chatterjee to resign on his own.


http://speakerloksabha.nic.in/roleofthespe...m%20of%20Office
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Term of Office

The Speaker holds office from the date of his election till immediately before the first meeting of the Lok Sabha after the dissolution of the one to which he was elected. He is eligible for re-election. On the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, although the Speaker ceases to be a member of the House, he does not vacate his office.  The Speaker may, at any time, resign from office by writing under his hand to the Deputy Speaker.  The Speaker can be removed from office only on a resolution of the House passed by a majority of all the then members of the House. Such a resolution has to satisfy some conditions like: it should be specific with respect to the charges and it should not contain arguments, inferences, ironical expressions, imputations or defamatory statements, etc. Not only these, discussions should be confined to charges referred to in the resolution. It is also mandatory to give a minimum of 14 days' notice of the intention to move the resolution.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->