Mayawati stops short of extending full support to FDI in retail

Party insiders exudes confidence that BSP will not disappoint the UPA

With the crucial debate on FDI in retail slated to begin in the Lok Sabha tomorrow, BSP supremo Mayawati signaled that although she was not in support of FDI in retail, she wanted keep communal forces (ie the BJP) at bay, but stopped short of announcing full support to the UPA. The Congress today maintained that they were “still in talks with BSP” but party insiders exuded confidence that BSP will not disappoint the UPA.

Taking cognizance of the fact that the BSP wanted the Constitutional Amendment Bill providing for promotions for SC/STs in government jobs to be priortised and tabled in Parliament, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath today said, "Government is committed to the Constitution Amendment Bill. It is introduced in the Rajya Sabha by us. It is listed as 'number 1' in the List of Business."

 

Mayawati who attempted to make public her stand on the issue; saying that although she was not in favour of FDI in retail she had taken note of the fact that it would not be imposed on the states. "The only plus point of this policy of the Centre is that if a state does not want to implement the FDI policy then it will not be forcefully imposed on that state. Our party has taken serious note of this. Our party is also serious thinking whether it should be standing with those parties that encourage communal forces," Mayawati said. 

She however chose to keep the government guessing by stating that the “BSP will disclose its stand on voting on FDI in Parliament.”

Mayawati who renders outside support to the UPA and has 21 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 15 in the Rajya Sabha, plays a pivotal role in determining the numbers for the UPA in both houses. As the UPA which is confident of sailing through the vote test in the Lok Sabha, is however on a weak wicket in the upper house; BSP’s support or abstention could prove to be crucial for the Congress led UPA.

The UPA had tried its best to resist being pushed to seek a vote on FDI in Parliament under Rule 184 in Lok Sabha and rule 168 in the Rajya Sabha but with the Opposition BJP refusing to let the house function, it had little option but to agree. The UPA as Congress sources say was aware that the Uttar Pradesh based parties BSP and SP would indulge in muscle flexing to render support or abstain, which in both cases would help the UPA.

The SP too has not spelt out its stand saying that it would make clear on the floor of the Parliament and mixed signals are emanating from the SP camp everyday.

Hectic parleys and backchannel talks are underway say Congress sources and the government is sure to pass the vote test in both houses but officially Kamal Nath urged  political parties to reject the "politics of BJP". "What are we going to discuss - this is purely politics. I am urging all political parties to recognise the politics behind this debate and vote against the politics...And the House must reject the politics of the BJP in this," he said