The Tribune – With Trinamool gone, SP blows hot and cold

K V Prasad, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 23. The dichotomy in the political approach of the Samajwadi Party (SP) is glaring. On one hand it continues to support the UPA government from the outside and on the other it vehemently opposes the decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retailing.

The latest in the series of his steps to keep up the pressure on the ruling coalition is a statement by SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav saying that he would support a resolution in Parliament against the FDI in retail which the Trinamool Congress is threatening to move during the winter session.

With 22 MPs, the SP chief knows the crucial nature of support for the survival of the Congress-led UPA coalition. On Saturday, after initially suggesting that a view on the resolution could be taken only when a situation arises, Mulayam later told a TV channel that the party will go with the TMC.

On Friday, the SP Parliamentary Board decided to continue support to the UPA on the grounds that it wants to keep the BJP at bay. The next day, the SP supremo goes to meet Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal that has an alliance with the BJP in Punjab.

Separately, Mulayam’s son and UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav blames the Manmohan Singh government for the ‘economic mess.’ “The people had voted UPA-1 and UPA-2 to power to deliver goods to people and if it failed in doing so who should be held responsible,” Akhilesh said in Mathura on Saturday when asked for his reaction to Prime Minister’s justification in hiking the price of diesel to reduce fiscal deficit. In the same breath, the young SP leader parroted that the party was standing behind the UPA to keep communal forces away from power but is ready for a snap poll.

The SP attitude is anchored in its deep interest of how its moves will impact political fortunes of the party in Uttar Pradesh and is multi-pronged in its approach. One is to deny space to the Congress there, two, is to prevent its political rival the Bahujan Samaj Party any leverage with the Centre, three, not to upset its support base among Muslim-minorities, and finally by straddling with the Left and other secular allies to keep them on its side with an eye on post- 2014 General Election scenario.

Having burnt its fingers in UP following a tie-up with the Rashtriya Kranti Party of Kalyan Singh, the SP chief is wary of taking any step that could be interpreted of moving closer to the BJP and by supporting the Congress, the party is making sure that Mayawati cannot fill the vacuum created by the SP moving against the Central Government.

Mulayam is of the view that the Congress cannot recover lost ground in many states, including in Bihar, Punjab, Gujarat, UP, West Bengal.

See-sawing, SP style

With 22 MPs, Mulayam knows the crucial nature of support for the survival of the Congress-led UPA coalition

Keeping up the pressure on the ruling coalition, Mulayam now says he would support a resolution, which the Trinamool Congress is threatening to move during the winter session, against the FDI in retail

Earlier, he had suggested that a view on the resolution could be taken only when a situation arises

On Friday, the SP Parliamentary Board decided to continue support to the UPA on the grounds that it wants to keep the BJP at bay. The next day, the SP supremo goes to meet Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of the SAD, a BJP ally in Punjab

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120924/main1.htm

The Hindu – Trinamool to move resolution against FDI

Shiv Sahay Singh & Gargi Parsai

Kolkata/New Delhi, September 22, 2012. The Trinamool Congress will move a resolution in the next session of Parliament opposing foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail, senior party leaders said here on Saturday.

The matter was discussed at a meeting the leaders had with party chairperson Mamata Banerjee at the State Secretariat in Kolkata on Saturday.

Speaking to journalists in New Delhi, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav remained non-committal on whether his party would support the Trinamool resolution. “We are against FDI in retail and we will decide our parliamentary strategy against FDI and other recent government decisions only ahead of the winter session.”

Earlier, Mr. Yadav told a news channel that his party itself might bring such a resolution. Asked about his “flip-flop” on the issue, he shot back: “I stick to whatever I say.”

In Kolkata, senior Trinamool leader and former Union Minister Saugata Roy told The Hindu that the party’s stand “opposing foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail has been very consistent and it has raised the issue in Parliament several times.” The party opposed the issue in its election manifesto before the 2009 Lok Sabha elections and the 2011 Assembly elections, he said.

The party also decided to organise protests in the State and in New Delhi.

Ever since the Trinamool announced its decision to withdraw support to the United Progressive Alliance government, Ms. Banerjee has been campaigning on the issue by posting comments on her Facebook page.

On Thursday, she posted the statement made by the then Union Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, in the Lok Sabha on December 7, 2011 that a final decision on allowing FDI in multi-brand retail would be taken only after consensus was reached.

Later, she questioned the notification by the UPA government on entry of FDI in retail. “Is it ethical, moral and democratic for a minority government to issue [a] government order forcefully and hurriedly when massive protest against it is taking place across the country?”

Mulayam meets Badal

Mr. Yadav declined to divulge details of his meeting earlier in the day with Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal saying he was the son of his old friend, Prakash Singh Badal. The meeting should not be seen as a move towards formation of a Third Front, he added.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/trinamool-to-move-resolution-against-fdi/article3926510.ece

The Asian Age – Sonia Gandhi leads UPA attack on L K Advani

Asian Age Correspondent

New Delhi, 9 August 2012. In a rare show of combativeness, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday led the UPA attack in the Lok Sabha against senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, who earlier described UPA-2 as “illegitimate”.

Mr Advani, initiating the debate on the adjournment motion on the Assam ethnic violence, said: “In 2004, the UPA-1 was formed after winning the election, so it was a legitimate government. But UPA-2 is an illegitimate government.” At this, UPA members were on their feet demanding an apology from Mr Advani.

A visibly angry Mrs Gandhi led the protest, asking UPA MPs to stand up and prevent Mr Advani from continuing. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also described Mr Advani’s remark as “disgraceful and unfortunate”.

Mr Advani later clarified he was referring to the contentious July 2008 confidence vote in the Lok Sabha, which the UPA government won.

The BJP, reacting to the Prime Minister’s observation, asked if the “cash-for vote scam was graceful”? The stage now appears set for a fresh bout of confrontation between the ruling and Opposition benches.

Initiating the debate on the Assam violence, Mr Advani called the UPA-2 government “illegitimate”, leading to vociferous protests which forced Speaker Meira Kumar to adjourn the House for a second time. The Speaker also asked Mr Advani to withdraw his remark, upon which the veteran BJP leader said he was referring to the 2008 trust vote and not the 2009 polls.

Mr Advani, accusing the government of failing to control the situation in Assam, said it should not be regarded as ethnic violence and that illegal Bangladeshi migrants, who posed a security threat to Assam and the rest of India, should be identified. Otherwise, he warned, the violence would continue.

http://www.asianage.com/india/sonia-leads-upa-attack-advani-142

The Asian Age – NCP wants to quit government, stay in UPA

Venkatesh Kesari, Asian Age Correspondent

New Delhi, 21 July 2012. Crisis managers in the Congress tried to keep ally NCP in good humour on Friday, a day after NCP chief Sharad Pawar and NCP leader and heavy industries minister Praful Patel sent their resignations to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on issues related to the functioning of the government and the coalition.

While Mr Pawar assured Dr Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi that his party would continue to remain in the UPA and support the government, he met them separately in the last 24 hours and explained why the NCP has decided to pull out of the government.

In a statement, the Prime Minister said, “Mr Sharad Pawar is a very valued colleague of mine whose knowledge, wisdom and experience are a great asset to our government.” The Congress core group discussed the issues raised by Mr Pawar at its meeting here Friday evening. Sources said “the matter has been settled. It has more to do with coordination between allies than with any demand for the number two position in the Cabinet.”

Though the NCP will decide its course of action on Monday, Congress managers are working on a formula to satisfy the NCP.

During his meetings with the PM and Mrs Gandhi, Mr Pawar made it clear that his party was not bargaining for anything and had not taken this step as a pressure tactic. He told them that key policy issues should be discussed with the UPA allies before bringing matters to the Cabinet.

Mr Pawar drew the PM’s and Mrs Gandhi’s attention to the deteriorating image of the government and the grim situation in key sectors, saying the government has to perform well and deliver before the next Lok Sabha election.

The NCP has been unhappy with the way the allies are kept in the dark on policy issues, and with the populist approach of the Congress. “This is a coalition, and not a one-party government,” a UPA leader said.

“We are unhappy with some aspects which have been raised by Pawar in personal meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi,” Mr Praful Patel said.

At AICC headquarters, party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said the Congress views Mr Pawar as a “senior and respectable” leader who is “looked upon with reverence” in the UPA.

On whether the NCP chief was mulling pulling out of the government, Mr Dwivedi said, “There is no such serious problem. A solution will be found.” Another Congress general secretary, Mr Digvijay Singh, also sought to mollify Mr Pawar.

http://www.asianage.com/india/ncp-wants-quit-govt-stay-upa-178

The Tribune – Pranab vs Sangma for President’s post; Ex-Lok Sabha Speaker quits NCP

Anita Katyal, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 20. The July 19 Presidential election will witness a contest between Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma. Sangma, founder member of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), resigned from the party today. NCP chief Sharad Pawar has accepted his resignation.

The NCP, which is a constituent of the UPA and is backing Mukherjee’s candidature, was not happy with Sangma’s decision and had even warned him that he would face disciplinary action if he decided to contest the Presidential poll.

Sangma’s candidature had been proposed by AIADMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Sangma has now got the additional support of a divided NDA which was left with little option after former President APJ Abdul Kalam, who was its first choice, opted out of the race.

Janata Party President Subramaniam Swamy, who has been in constant touch with Sangma on behalf of the NDA, called on the former Lok Sabha Speaker this afternoon to convey the NDA’s support. It was after this verbal assurance that Sangma resigned from the NCP. Interestingly, it was Swamy who announced his resignation to the media. “Sangma had no option but to resign from the NCP. He has done so for self-respect. We are trying to build a consensus in his favour,” he said.

BJP leaders who met here at LK Advani’s residence this evening, decided that their decision will announced after tomorrow’s meeting of NDA allies.

However, the BJP-led NDA is not all on the same page on this issue.

Shiv Sena, the BJP’s closest ally, has already announced that it will back UPA candidate Mukherjee as it does not see any merit in forcing a token contest. Similarly, the Janata Dal (U) is also not in favour of backing Sangma and would prefer to pledge its support to Mukherjee.

It is learnt that JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav has conveyed as much to the BJP leadership. It was because of these internal differences that the last two meetings of NDA leaders had ended inconclusively.

In his resignation letter, Sangma stated that the Tribal Forum of India had projected his candidature for the Presidential election which had the backing of several political parties while his own party was disinclined to endorse his candidature.

“This amounts to denial of the aspirations of tribals of the country,” he said, adding that he had no option but to resign from the party.

In an effort to put up a credible fight, the BJP will not project Sangma as its own nominee but as an Independent candidate.

By doing so, it hopes to win over parties like the Trinamool Congress and the Left Front, which would otherwise not like to be seen in the company of the NDA.

However, Mukherjee is well ahead of his opponent. Not only does he have the backing of the UPA constituents, except the Trinamool Congress, but he also has the support of the Samajwadi Party, the BSP, the Lok Janashakti Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

Battlelines drawn

Janata Party chief Subramaniam Swamy called on Sangma on Wednesday afternoon to convey the NDA’s support

It was after this verbal assurance that Sangma quit the NCP

Swamy announced Sangma’s resignation to the media

BJP won’t project Sangma as its own nominee, but as an Independent candidate to win over the Trinamool and Left Front

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120621/main2.htm

The Hindu – UPA to reach out to allies, Opposition before taking Lokpal Bill to Cabinet

Government had planned to clear the draft at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday

Smita Gupta

New Delhi, December 13, 2011. The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is taking no chance on the Lokpal Bill.

After the recent experience on the FDI issue, the UPA has decided to first have discussions with its allies on Tuesday and hold an all-party meeting on Wednesday to work out a consensus on the contentious Lokpal Bill before getting Cabinet clearance for it.

The government had planned to clear the draft at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Sources in the government said the Cabinet would meet either on December 18 or the next day to clear the draft, so that it could be brought in Parliament either on December 19 or 20 and pass it in the winter session that ends on December 22. This is because Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be flying to Moscow on December 15 for a two-day annual summit.

A day after Anna Hazare’s Congress-baiting Opposition “durbar” at Jantar Mantar here, the government wants to have everything signed and sealed, as it were, before it brings the Lokpal Bill to Parliament. This is because the tone and tenor of Opposition parties at closed-door meetings with the government, sources in the Congress say, is very different from their public stance. In private, the line taken is that Parliament is supreme; outside, Opposition MPs were playing to the gallery, the sources add.

Indeed, on Monday, Union Ministers Ambika Soni, Salman Khurshid and Farooq Abdullah separately made the point that while Parliament is in session, the House was the right forum for the Opposition to discuss key issues such as the Lokpal Bill.

Sonia’s letter

This was also the point made by Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi in a letter written on behalf of party president Sonia Gandhi in answer to India Against Corruption’s invitation to the Jantar Mantar debate.

Meanwhile, the government, the sources said, may accept the demand to include Prime Minister within the ambit of the Lokpal Bill with some conditions (like excluding decisions taken on external affairs, national security, etc), even though its preference is for placing Prime Minister under the purview of the proposed ombudsman after the latter demits office.

As for Group C employees, with many Congress MPs too pressing for their inclusion, the government is likely to accept this in some form.

However, the government remains opposed to bringing the Central Bureau of Investigation under its purview.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2709956.ece