Maya takes back support to UPA; Left pressure on

Political Bureau
Posted: Sunday, Jun 22, 2008 at 0021 hrs IST
Updated: Sunday, Jun 22, 2008 at 0021 hrs IST

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New Delhi, Jun 21 : Already reeling under the twin crisis of rising inflation and the nuclear deal, the Manmohan Singh government received a fresh jolt on Saturday when the BSP announced withdrawal of support to the UPA at the Centre.

As far as the numbers go, the BSP decision to snap ties with the UPA will not have any bearing on the ruling coalition: the UPA continues to command majority in the Lok Sabha as of now and along with the Left parties, its numbers add up to 285, a few seats above the halfway mark of 272.

However, the pullout by the BSP, although expected now for some time, could not have come at a more inopportune time and contributes significantly in terms of chipping away at the self-confidence and morale of the ruling coalition. The BSP is the second party to distance from the UPA, with the TRS (with four MPs) having parted ways earlier on the Telengana statehood issue.

BSP supremo Mayawati dealt the blow this evening when she convened a press conference here to announce that she had sent a letter to President Pratibha Patil intimating her of the BSP decision. She alleged that the UPA has failed to take care of the interests of the common people in the country.

The government’s efforts to hold the price line have not been yielding desired results with the situation turning into a virtual crisis when inflation hit a 13-year high on Friday. It is also facing a tough time in finding an amicable resolution to the nuclear issue with the Left threatening to withdraw support if the government decided to go to the IAEA with India-specific safeguards agreement.

On Saturday, government managers continued the engagement with Left and other leaders of the UPA. CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat met external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee and NCP leader DP Tripathi. Sources in the CPI(M) said Karat was leaving for Chennai on Sunday to meet Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi.

Persisting with its hardline stand, the CPI(M) said in a statement: “Nuclear energy has very little to do with oil—it cannot be used as a substitute for oil; unless the government experts have found a new way to burn uranium directly in cars and buses! On the other hand, natural gas from Iran would insulate India substantively from the oil price shocks. The government has been dragging its feet over the Iran...

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