No-confidence: Opposition asks Mamata to ensure SP, BSP support

Our Bureau Updated - March 12, 2018 at 06:55 PM.

The Trinamool Congress’s no-confidence motion does not have many takers in political circles.

The Opposition parties believe that such a step, without ensuring the support of Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party, could be defeated by the Government.

The BJP and the Left parties said that a final view on the Trinamool’s suggestion will be taken ahead of the session, which will begin on Thursday.

However, both the parties indicated that a trust vote may eventually help the UPA Government to consolidate its position.

CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said, “A no-confidence motion will only help the Government cover up all wrong measures it has taken and claim parliamentary mandate, as it has the numbers to defeat such a motion.”

Karat added that the UPA enjoys majority in Lok Sabha with the help of the SP and the BSP.

The BJP’s Parliamentary board executive will take a decision on the matter, the party spokesperson, Prakash Javadekar said.

Sources indicated that the party will also take a step “carefully” after holding discussions with like-minded parties. Rather than a no-confidence motion, Opposition parties are likely to work jointly towards a censure motion with voting against the FDI in retail.

The Congress said it is confident of managing the numbers.

Party spokesperson and Minister Manish Tewari said one has never heard in the history of Parliament of a party with 19 MPs moving a no-confidence motion.

“To top it, she (Mamata Banerjee) is seeking support from those very people whom she has opposed for the past 30 years,” Tewari said. He urged the Trinamool supremo to change her mind.

jigeesh.am@thehindu.co.in

Published on November 19, 2012 15:22