08-21-2007, 09:59 PM
Pioneer article
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Save Govt at any cost: UPA allies
Akhilesh Suman | New Delhi
Even PM change should be considered, feel MPs
Amid the tough postures taken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Left parties over the India-US civil nuclear deal, the UPA allies are becoming jittery over the prospect of facing a mid-term poll on a controversial issue like nuclear deal.
The show of unity on Sunday during the UPA meeting does not reflect the growing unease of the allies over the way the Government was doing precious little to avert a mid-term poll.
<b>"We may be forced to face mid-term poll, but if you say we are prepared, it is just showing a brave face," a senior member of a UPA constituent told The Pioneer.
"The Congress president and the Prime Minister should find a way out and avoid confrontation to let the Government function for its full term," he added.</b>
Concerned that the situation was moving fast towards the untimely end of the Government, the allies have started talking about the possible steps the Government could take to stave off the spectre of mid-term poll.
<b>In an off-the-record conversation in Parliament on Tuesday, several MPs belonging to regional parties with stake in the Government were of the opinion that it would be better to sacrifice the Prime Minister to save the Government. "If needed, we should think of an alternative to the present Prime Minister. Why should we go into the election for the fault of one or two people?"</b>
<b>The MPs feel that the entire issue has become one of ego tussle between the Left bigwigs and the Prime Minister, and blame Manmohan Singh for aggravating crisis by daring the Left to withdraw support. </b>
"The nation cannot be plunged into poll because of the egos of some people. Manmohan has taken the entire India-US nuclear deal as his personal prestige issue. If he were replaced, perhaps the tempers could cool down and the Left be pacified," commented an MP.
Though the UPA leaders pledged support to the leadership of Manmohan Singh on Sunday, their MPs are justifying the apprehensions of the Left parties on the nuclear deal and feel that it could alienate the minority voters.
"Even if an election is held, we will think twice before aligning with the Congress on this issue, we don't want to be seen on the right side of America," another UPA member said.
Another straw that the allies were clutching was possible intervention by the West Bengal lobby within the CPI(M) to avert the crisis. They were drawing some hope from CPI(M) patriarch Jyoti Basu's statement that the mid-term poll was not a possibility.
<b>Clinging on to power:</b>
UPA allies becoming jittery over prospect of facing mid-term poll on controversial issue like N-deal
MPs feel Sonia, PM should find a way out and avoid confrontation to let Govt complete its full term
They talk about possible steps Govt could take to stave off spectre of mid-term poll
MPs feel entire issue has become one of ego tussle between Left bigwigs and PM
Allies pin hopes on CPI(M) patriarch Jyoti Basu's statement that mid-term poll was not a possibility<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Save Govt at any cost: UPA allies
Akhilesh Suman | New Delhi
Even PM change should be considered, feel MPs
Amid the tough postures taken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Left parties over the India-US civil nuclear deal, the UPA allies are becoming jittery over the prospect of facing a mid-term poll on a controversial issue like nuclear deal.
The show of unity on Sunday during the UPA meeting does not reflect the growing unease of the allies over the way the Government was doing precious little to avert a mid-term poll.
<b>"We may be forced to face mid-term poll, but if you say we are prepared, it is just showing a brave face," a senior member of a UPA constituent told The Pioneer.
"The Congress president and the Prime Minister should find a way out and avoid confrontation to let the Government function for its full term," he added.</b>
Concerned that the situation was moving fast towards the untimely end of the Government, the allies have started talking about the possible steps the Government could take to stave off the spectre of mid-term poll.
<b>In an off-the-record conversation in Parliament on Tuesday, several MPs belonging to regional parties with stake in the Government were of the opinion that it would be better to sacrifice the Prime Minister to save the Government. "If needed, we should think of an alternative to the present Prime Minister. Why should we go into the election for the fault of one or two people?"</b>
<b>The MPs feel that the entire issue has become one of ego tussle between the Left bigwigs and the Prime Minister, and blame Manmohan Singh for aggravating crisis by daring the Left to withdraw support. </b>
"The nation cannot be plunged into poll because of the egos of some people. Manmohan has taken the entire India-US nuclear deal as his personal prestige issue. If he were replaced, perhaps the tempers could cool down and the Left be pacified," commented an MP.
Though the UPA leaders pledged support to the leadership of Manmohan Singh on Sunday, their MPs are justifying the apprehensions of the Left parties on the nuclear deal and feel that it could alienate the minority voters.
"Even if an election is held, we will think twice before aligning with the Congress on this issue, we don't want to be seen on the right side of America," another UPA member said.
Another straw that the allies were clutching was possible intervention by the West Bengal lobby within the CPI(M) to avert the crisis. They were drawing some hope from CPI(M) patriarch Jyoti Basu's statement that the mid-term poll was not a possibility.
<b>Clinging on to power:</b>
UPA allies becoming jittery over prospect of facing mid-term poll on controversial issue like N-deal
MPs feel Sonia, PM should find a way out and avoid confrontation to let Govt complete its full term
They talk about possible steps Govt could take to stave off spectre of mid-term poll
MPs feel entire issue has become one of ego tussle between Left bigwigs and PM
Allies pin hopes on CPI(M) patriarch Jyoti Basu's statement that mid-term poll was not a possibility<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->