Uf Unfazed By No-Trust Move, Sure Of Cong Support
Ministers in Prime Minister H D Deve Gowdas cabinet appeared confident on the eve of the budget session of Parliament, which begins today, in spite of Samata Party president George Fernandes giving a notice for a no-confidence motion.
The United Fronts (UF) floor managers appeared far more cheerful yesterday than on the eve of the winter session, even though the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) was being led by P V Narasimha Rao at the time. Fernandes motion may actually help the Front, since the Congress is almost certain to vote with the Front on it so early in the session.
Though the party recently adopted a threatening posture on its support to the UF, its leader in the Lok Sabha, Sharad Pawar, seems determined to block any attempt by party chief Sitaram Kesari to bring down the government. Pawar appears to have the backing of Rajesh Pilot and others close to Rao.
Since not more than one no-confidence motion is normally admitted during a session, the Congress would not be able to move another if Fernandes motion is defeated. Of course, there will be a number of finance bills during this session and the government would fall if any of them were defeated or passed with cuts.
Besides, as a minister pointed out, the government could always trump a belligerent Congress by placing the Bofors papers before Parliament. Even without that, some ministers hoped, the opposition will train its guns first on the Congress late leader Rajiv Gandhis links with Ottavio Quattrocchi, who was recently identified officially as one of the recipients of kickbacks in the Bofors gun deal.
The United Front is unlikely to join the attack on the Congress spiritedly, but looks forward to watching the party under attack from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other opposition members.
These parties are likely to be in their element, particularly after the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP victory in Punjab. The debate on the Presidents address and the motion of no-confidence will provide opportunities for them to attack the UFs performance.
Formally, the session will open with a statement of the governments policies and plans for the year by the President. Both Houses are likely to be adjourned soon after that. Business is likely to begin on Friday and the session will gather momentum on Monday. Much of the rest of the session is to be occupied with financial business, the railway budget, general budget and demands for grants by ministries.