Indian UPA coalition on Litmus test

Indian UPA coalition on Litmus test
2010-04-15 06:34:31 - Congress as well as government have remained unfazed by the opposition moves with party leaders saying the party and its allies were fully prepared to face any eventuality.

India's ruling UPA's strength in the Lok Sabha comes in for a close litmus test when Parliament resumes the second phase of the Budget session Thursday with the opposition planning to move a cut motion on price rise.

On a number of issues that have emerged to the discomfiture of the government which range from the latest row involving Minister Shashi
Tharoor to the Dantewada massacre by the Maoists.

Congress gets reprieve as its allies was that 21-member BSP has stayed away from non-NDA and non-UPA parties' initiative, which together account for 87 MPs, to bring a cut motion demanding roll back in hike in prices of petroleum products and fertilisers.Congress-led UPA has a strength of around 265 members, including some independents and BSP's action has raised its comfort level in the event of a crisis in the 543-member House.The leaders of the 13-party grouping have said the idea of bringing the cut motion was not to topple the government but to focus on the issue of price rise. A cut motion puts to test the strength of the government in the Lok Sabha. If the motion is adopted, it amounts to defeat of the government on a money matter.

BJP as also non-NDA and non-UPA parties are seeking to mobilise public support on the issue of price rise with BJP announcing 'gherao of Parliament' on 21st April and the 13-parties calling for a nation-wide strike on 27th April.BJP, which has 116 members, is also planning to move a cut motion on the issue of price rise and wants to move in the matter along with its allies in NDA. JD(U) has 20 MPs while other allies Shiv Sena and Akali Dal have 11 and four members respectively.BJP has given enough hints that it would not be averse to doing business with the 13-party grouping on the cut motion issue."We will make all efforts from our side on the issue of cut motion and will do everything it takes for floor coordination," party spokesperson Nirmala Seetharaman has said.