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Monday, Jul 21, 2008
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Contest tightens, situation volatile

New Delhi Bureau

Deve Gowda’s JD(S) & Ajit Singh’s RLD will vote against government, Shibu Soren’s JMM will back UPA

Unease in NDA over ‘Mayawati as Prime Minister’ campaign
UPA effects two desertions in Opposition camp

— Photos: V. Sudershan, Shanker Chakravarty

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, BSP supremo Mayawati, CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan and TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu after the UNPA-Left meeting in New Delhi on Sunday. At right, Samajwadi Party leaders Mulayam Singh, Amar Singh, Shyama Charan Gupta, and Jayaprada at a press conference.

NEW DELHI: Less than 12 hours before the start of the crucial trust vote debate, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) found itself pinned against the wall, with a determined Opposition showing no sign of relenting in its declared objective of voting the Manmohan Singh government out.

Unless the UPA managers succeed in their plans to secure abstentions and defections in the Opposition ranks, the government may find itself in for a photo-finish as both sides are now evenly matched. There is distinct unease in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the extraordinary momentum that the ‘Mayawati as Prime Minister’ campaign has gained in the last 48 hours. This unease could find itself reflected in the most unexpected manner.

On Sunday, while the UPA gained the endorsement of its wavering constituents — the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen — it lost the battle to woo the Rashtriya Lok Dal and the Janata Dal (Secular). While the AIMIM announced its decision in Hyderabad to remain with the UPA, the JMM came around after a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Claiming to have been assured a Cabinet berth, JMM leader Shibu Soren said the party decision was guided by demands from Jharkhand to remain within the UPA. “Under the present circumstances in Jharkhand, it was decided that our best option is to continue our alliance with the Congress,” he said.

However, the ground began slipping for the government, with RLD chief Ajit Singh, after a meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, deciding to vote against the UPA. Later in the evening, the JD(S) followed suit; again after a meeting with Ms. Mayawati, which was preceded by an interaction with the United National Progressive Alliance and the four Left parties over lunch.

At a press conference after the luncheon meeting, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat, his CPI counterpart, A.B. Bardhan, and Ms. Mayawati announced that the one-point agenda before all of them was to ensure the defeat of the government on July 22. Along with UNPA convener N. Chandrababu Naidu, they announced that their parties and the JD(S) would meet on July 23 to decide on the future course of action.

Besides the support of the JMM and the AIMIM, the ruling side managed to effect two desertions in the Opposition camp: Ramswaroop Prasad of the Janata Dal (United) and Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of the BJP. Addressing his second press conference of the day, Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh announced the BJP member’s change of camp. Mr. Prasad’s decision was confirmed by his office.

Faced with speculations of large-scale defections in the party, the SP leadership paraded its Lok Sabha members; a dozen of them in the morning briefing and the rest in the evening. After considerable coaxing, party president Mulayam Singh said 35 of the 39 SP Lok Sabha MPs were with him.

About the stand to be taken by the two jailed MPs — Ateeq Ahmed and Afzal Ansari — Mr. Amar Singh said: “Ateeq is with Beni Prasad Verma and he is Beni’s responsibility. Afzal is with us.” Further, he claimed that at least three MPs — Shyama Sharan Gupta, Shafiqur Rahman Barq and Chandra Dev Prasad Rajbhar — were offered inducements to change sides.

Late on Saturday night, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself contacted Asom Gana Parishad member Sarbananda Sonowal and sought his party’s help in bailing out the government. Reminding the AGP member that he was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Assam, Dr. Singh asked the party to reconsider its opposition to the deal. However, the AGP has refused to relent.

As for the National Conference, it will make its move at the time of voting. However, the party has made it clear that it will not vote with the NDA. While the NC’s first preference is to abstain from voting, the party will vote for the government if it is in dire straits.

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