07-22-2008, 03:38 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>A Re-run of 1999? </b>
Pioneer.com
Nidhi Sharma | New Delhi
Congress banks on abstentions to offset Maya aggression
With Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati still on the prowl, the UPA Government geared up to face the floor test late on Tuesday evening on a cautious note. It is hoping to scrape through with the help of abstentions that could bring down the halfway mark to 265 or lower.
The UPA leaders are not willing to take any chances as yet. The threat of BSP czarina Mayawati poaching more MPs from the ruling coalition and any last-minute surprises on the floor of the House could turn the tide either way. Haryana MP Arvind Sharma, who had shown early signs of rebellion, met Mayawati on Tuesday evening. This despite the fact that he had been wooed back after an audience with Congress president Sonia Gandhi. There were reports that Mayawati had been able to lure some more Samajwadi Party MPs, which could upset the UPA calculations.
After weeks of confabulations, number crunching and pursuing every elusive MP, the UPA political managers finally declared on Monday evening that the Government was safe. Sources said that the UPA was expecting 12-15 abstentions. With the effective strength of the Lok Sabha at 541, the Government would have to poll half the votes - 271 - to win the confidence vote. However, with abstentions, this requirement could come down drastically. If there are 12 abstentions, the effective strength would be 529, which would translate into 265 votes as the halfway mark.
A senior leader said: "We would certainly have over 272 votes and the halfway mark would be somewhere around 265 or lower." Sources said that the Congress was confident of abstentions from the Janata Dal (United), BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal and Shiv Sena. Despite the National Conference (NC) staying away from the UPA dinner, hosted by the Prime Minister on Sunday evening, the Congress said both the MPs would be present and vote for the Government.
A leader said confidently: "They won't abstain. They will be present and vote."
The Congress is drawing its confidence from the fact that it has been able to keep its MPs from straying. Even small notes of dissent were nipped in the bud and sulking MPs - like Karnataka's RL Jalappa - were immediately calmed down. So far, the UPA has thwarted attempts by the NDA to split the RJD. Political managers, however, said that the final test would be on the floor of the House on Tuesday evening.
After the sudden volte face by Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), the Congress is now trying to wage a psychological battle. According to high-level sources, a senior Muslim leader from the RLD, Mirajuddin, would formally join the Congress on Tuesday. He would first meet Sonia Gandhi at Parliament and then a formal declaration of his joining the party would be made by the Congress. Sources said that the Congress would make such a declaration just before the trust vote as it could show that Muslims were not opposed to the nuclear deal.
Lone Mizo National Front MP Vanlalzawma will abstain from voting on Tuesday
Nagaland People's Front will decide on Tuesday on whether its lone MP will vote for or against the UPA
<b>Mamata Banerjee said though she was not in favour of deal, her party can never back a motion set in by CPI(M)</b> <i>[her head is located near her toe]</i>
BJP MP Harischandra Chavan, hospitalised in Nashik, was flown to Delhi to participate in the trust vote
Mahesh Kanodia, BJP MP from Gujarat, who is in a Mumbai hospital, would be flown to Delhi by early Tuesday
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Pioneer.com
Nidhi Sharma | New Delhi
Congress banks on abstentions to offset Maya aggression
With Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati still on the prowl, the UPA Government geared up to face the floor test late on Tuesday evening on a cautious note. It is hoping to scrape through with the help of abstentions that could bring down the halfway mark to 265 or lower.
The UPA leaders are not willing to take any chances as yet. The threat of BSP czarina Mayawati poaching more MPs from the ruling coalition and any last-minute surprises on the floor of the House could turn the tide either way. Haryana MP Arvind Sharma, who had shown early signs of rebellion, met Mayawati on Tuesday evening. This despite the fact that he had been wooed back after an audience with Congress president Sonia Gandhi. There were reports that Mayawati had been able to lure some more Samajwadi Party MPs, which could upset the UPA calculations.
After weeks of confabulations, number crunching and pursuing every elusive MP, the UPA political managers finally declared on Monday evening that the Government was safe. Sources said that the UPA was expecting 12-15 abstentions. With the effective strength of the Lok Sabha at 541, the Government would have to poll half the votes - 271 - to win the confidence vote. However, with abstentions, this requirement could come down drastically. If there are 12 abstentions, the effective strength would be 529, which would translate into 265 votes as the halfway mark.
A senior leader said: "We would certainly have over 272 votes and the halfway mark would be somewhere around 265 or lower." Sources said that the Congress was confident of abstentions from the Janata Dal (United), BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal and Shiv Sena. Despite the National Conference (NC) staying away from the UPA dinner, hosted by the Prime Minister on Sunday evening, the Congress said both the MPs would be present and vote for the Government.
A leader said confidently: "They won't abstain. They will be present and vote."
The Congress is drawing its confidence from the fact that it has been able to keep its MPs from straying. Even small notes of dissent were nipped in the bud and sulking MPs - like Karnataka's RL Jalappa - were immediately calmed down. So far, the UPA has thwarted attempts by the NDA to split the RJD. Political managers, however, said that the final test would be on the floor of the House on Tuesday evening.
After the sudden volte face by Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), the Congress is now trying to wage a psychological battle. According to high-level sources, a senior Muslim leader from the RLD, Mirajuddin, would formally join the Congress on Tuesday. He would first meet Sonia Gandhi at Parliament and then a formal declaration of his joining the party would be made by the Congress. Sources said that the Congress would make such a declaration just before the trust vote as it could show that Muslims were not opposed to the nuclear deal.
Lone Mizo National Front MP Vanlalzawma will abstain from voting on Tuesday
Nagaland People's Front will decide on Tuesday on whether its lone MP will vote for or against the UPA
<b>Mamata Banerjee said though she was not in favour of deal, her party can never back a motion set in by CPI(M)</b> <i>[her head is located near her toe]</i>
BJP MP Harischandra Chavan, hospitalised in Nashik, was flown to Delhi to participate in the trust vote
Mahesh Kanodia, BJP MP from Gujarat, who is in a Mumbai hospital, would be flown to Delhi by early Tuesday
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