A completely divided Opposition in the UP assembly has put the ruling BSP completely at ease in the state Legislature.
Opposition parties that claimed to prepare for a “final assault” on the Mayawati government in the Budget Session seems to have lost steam midway.
The Samajwadi Party, which is the main Opposition party in the UP Assembly, has failed to mount an attack on the state government while the BJP grapples with factionalism within. On Tuesday, the entire Samajwadi Party was absent from the house. All legislators had gone to Etawah to attend the wedding of their leader Shivpal Singh Yadav’s daughter, leaving the field completely clear for the government to have its way.
“We have changed our strategy. Instead of wasting lung power inside the Assembly, we have decided to preserve our energies for main battle. The government can have the last laugh where the Assembly is concerned but we are bothered mainly about the fight in the people’s court,” said a senior SP legislator before leaving for Etawah.
The state of the Opposition is so deplorable that on Monday evening, the state government quietly tabled the bill for reforms in urban local bodies, making elections to mayoral posts indirect. All the Opposition parties remained blissfully unaware of the development and started reacting only when some journalists pointed out the development.
BJP MLAs, on the other hand, are getting restive against their leadership.
“We have no inkling about the party’s posture regarding the Mayawati government. Our own leaders ridicule us when we raise issues that concern the people and their problems. The ministers refuse to reply to pointed queries and our party is actually enjoying this state of inertia. It is rather disgusting for most of us,” said a BJP MLA.
Meanwhile, majority of the members in the Congress remain absent and those that come walk away after signing their attendance. The CLP, in any case, continues with its pro-government posture and refuses to ‘disturb’ the government at any stage. The party has never disrupted the proceedings of the house and a one staid walkout is all that the Congress has staged in this session as a token of protest.
“For us, this is one of the best sessions we have ever had. The debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address was over in one day and the debate on the general budget is also likely to wrap up in a day or two. The opposition has finally proved that it has no issue against the government and there could not be a greater certificate of excellence for the Mayawati government,” said a senior minister in the Mayawati government.