New Delhi, April 27: The Opposition’s plan to isolate the UPA by introducing cut motion in the Parliament against price rise has all but failed even before it was put to vote on Tuesday, as the strong Bahujan Samaj Party has decided to stand by the government on the issue.
BSP chief Mayawati announced that her party will oppose the motion in Parliament.
Mayawati said her party wanted to vote in favour of the cut motion as the UPA government had failed to check price rise, but decided against it as this would help communal forces gain strength at the Centre.
The BSP has 21 members in the Lok Sabha.
Mayawati came out in support of the UPA government even as she attacked its ‘wrong’ economic policies responsible for price rise, poverty and unemployment.
The Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s decision comes as a relief to the central government even though it has been all along reposing confidence in passing the test of strength.
The BSP’s stance is being linked to the CBI telling the Supreme Court recently that it was prepared to consider Mayawati’s plea for closing a disproportionate assets case against her.
The Parliament, meanwhile, is facing disruption from the Opposition. The Rajya Sabha, which was earlier adjourned till 12.00 noon, has now been adjourned for the day. The Lok Sabha too has been adjourned till 2.00 pm.
Most political parties, including members of the United Progressive Alliance, have issued their respective whips to lawmakers to be present in the Lower House of Parliament when a guillotine — a procedure that combines all ministry-related demands for grants — is scheduled around 6.00 pm.
The Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal have also indicated that they are not in favour of pulling down the Manmohan Singh government down at this juncture.
The two parties said that they are not in favour of voting “without a discussion.”
The cut motion by the Left and the BJP, proposed just ahead of the guillotine, is expected to call for reducing the budgetary support for the ministries of petroleum and fertilisers by a token Re 1 to lodge dissent and called “disapproval of policy cut” as per parliamentary procedures.
When budget proposals are presented in Parliament for approval, a lawmaker or a party can question specific allocations with a cut motion. If it is carried in the House, it amounts to a vote of no confidence and the government is obliged to quit.
But the treasury was confident of braving the dissent.
“The financial business will be cleared. There is no problem at all,” said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal.
“Where is the question of feeling threatened,” added Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi, even as his party colleagues claimed they had the clear support of 271 MPs in the 543-member House.
–Agencies