The Opposition is in a double mind on whether or not to bring a no-confidence motion against the Manmohan Singh government in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning July 26.
While a section of the NDA is opposing this move fearing that it will not serve any purpose as the government will break the Opposition unity once again, the BJP is yet to make up its mind. But the Shiv Sena is said to be in favour of it.
According to well-placed sources, the Janata Dal (United) is not keen on it, believing that the Samajwadi Party, BSP and the RJD would be compelled to support the government, directly or indirectly, just as they had backed it during the voting on the cut motions in the Budget Session.
The BJP’s priority seems to press a discussion under Rule 184 on the issue of price rise in the first week of the session itself. If the motion is admitted under this rule then the House will have to express its view through voting.
But a motion of no-confidence in the council of ministers against the backdrop of the recent Bharat bandh will sharpen the attack on the government on the issues of overall price rise, internal security, especially the Centre’s failure to check the Maoist activity spread over in about half-a-dozen states and the unrest in the Kashmir Valley. But at the same time it will also expose the fence-sitters ahead of the Bihar Assembly polls.
If these issues have put the government in the dock after coming to power in the name of aam aadmi, the division in the Opposition on key issues will not pose any threat to its stability.
The Opposition is sharply divided on the Women’s Reservation Bill and internal security.
If the Women’s Reservation Bill has united Mandalite members cutting across party lines, it has divided the UPA and the NDA as well. The Congress, BJP, Left, Akali Dal, BJD are seen on one side, the Trinamul Congress, the JD(U) have taken a different line from the Congress and the BJP and the NCP remained ambiguous deliberately.
On the issue of tackling Maoists, the Congress, BJP and the Left are seen on one side. But on the civil liability for nuclear damage bill, which the government is determined to bring to the Lok Sabha for passage, the division between the UPA and the Opposition is clearly seen.
Caste-based census will be another issue on which division among political parties could be seen on the floor.