No confidence in UPA, Mamata gets ready to walk the talk
21 Nov 2012 6:57 AM IST
Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee is in no mood to let the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) have a free run during the winter session of parliament starting from 22 November. With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) not making it clear whether they would support a no-confidence motion brought by the TMC, the West Bengal chief minister on Tuesday said she was ready to walk the extra-mile to achieve the Opposition’s unity.
Maintaining a combative tone, however, the CPI(M) has rejected her offer.
In her post on Facebook, Banerjee said, ‘If they, the CP(I)M, have any problem to support the no-confidence motion moved by the Trinamool Congress, they may move such motion themselves. But I want to be assured that the no-confidence motion is tabled for voting. I will have no hesitation in voting for the no-confidence motion moved by them, and for that reason even if I am required to go to the party headquarters of the CPI(M) for discussion, I will do so.’
Earlier in the day, AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa said her party would vote against foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail, if a motion is brought in parliament. She emphasised on her government’s stand of opposing FDI in retail in Tamil Nadu. Regarding a no-confidence motion against the government in parliament, she said, ‘So far no one has approached the AIADMK for support for any no-confidence motion. If such a request comes, we’ll examine it.’
Later in the evening, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) too decided to keep Mamata waiting on the matter. ‘The NDA will consult all political parties and explore a no-confidence motion against the government,’ announced BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad in Delhi after a meeting of the alliance. He said, ‘The NDA will move a resolution under voting provision urging the government to withdraw FDI in retail. The NDA believes this government has failed on all fronts and time has come for it to go.’
The UPA government, on the other hand, is confident that it has the numbers. ‘For the first time in my 32 years in Parliament, I am seeing a party with 19 members moving a no-confidence motion,’ said parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath referring to Banerjee’s initiative. ‘She was on this (government) side till the last session, now she is on that (opposition) side. A former ally with 19 members threatening us does not mean much. It does not mean we start counting our numbers. We are not a government without numbers. As and when required we will establish it on the floor of the House.’
Even leader of the Lok Sabha and Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde dismissed any threat to the government. He said, ‘We are not afraid.’
Maintaining a combative tone, however, the CPI(M) has rejected her offer.
In her post on Facebook, Banerjee said, ‘If they, the CP(I)M, have any problem to support the no-confidence motion moved by the Trinamool Congress, they may move such motion themselves. But I want to be assured that the no-confidence motion is tabled for voting. I will have no hesitation in voting for the no-confidence motion moved by them, and for that reason even if I am required to go to the party headquarters of the CPI(M) for discussion, I will do so.’
Earlier in the day, AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa said her party would vote against foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail, if a motion is brought in parliament. She emphasised on her government’s stand of opposing FDI in retail in Tamil Nadu. Regarding a no-confidence motion against the government in parliament, she said, ‘So far no one has approached the AIADMK for support for any no-confidence motion. If such a request comes, we’ll examine it.’
Later in the evening, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) too decided to keep Mamata waiting on the matter. ‘The NDA will consult all political parties and explore a no-confidence motion against the government,’ announced BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad in Delhi after a meeting of the alliance. He said, ‘The NDA will move a resolution under voting provision urging the government to withdraw FDI in retail. The NDA believes this government has failed on all fronts and time has come for it to go.’
The UPA government, on the other hand, is confident that it has the numbers. ‘For the first time in my 32 years in Parliament, I am seeing a party with 19 members moving a no-confidence motion,’ said parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath referring to Banerjee’s initiative. ‘She was on this (government) side till the last session, now she is on that (opposition) side. A former ally with 19 members threatening us does not mean much. It does not mean we start counting our numbers. We are not a government without numbers. As and when required we will establish it on the floor of the House.’
Even leader of the Lok Sabha and Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde dismissed any threat to the government. He said, ‘We are not afraid.’
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