Nuclear deal debate begins

21 July 2008

With the first day of the debate that will culminate in a vote of confidence (or lack of it) in the present Indian government, the final act of the year-long nuclear deal drama finally started in the Parliament today. It was, in many ways, the culmination of a four-years-plus uneasy alliance between traditional adversaries the Congress and the Left Front.

Whatever the myriad reasons behind the unraveling of relations between Prakash Karat & Co. and Manmohan Singh's government be, there's no denying that the nuclear deal-in-limbo was the proverbial last straw that broke the camel's back. But can the camel stand up and walk for nine more months until the five-year term of the UPA government expires is anybody's guess, and answerable with complete certainty almost 24 hours from now.

After the left wing parties withdrew their support, the UPA coalition that has 226 members, requires 46 more votes to gain a majority in the 542-member house. It has secured the support of 34 members from the regional Samajwadi Party and has been courting MPs from smaller parties and independent lawmakers to reach the 272 mark.

However, the magic mark may well be short of the 272 figure, and for this the Congress is certainly grateful. This is because of the large number of no-shows expected tomorrow. Although Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is the sole MP who has publicly said that she would abstain, nine others, from the opposition BJP and her allies, are expected to join her.

Twelve hours have been allotted for the debate and the voting is expected on Tuesday evening at about 6 PM after the prime minister's reply.

With Speaker Somnath Chatterjee brushing aside his party's demand for his resignation and presiding over the proceedings, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh moved a one-line motion "that this House expresses its confidence in the Council of Ministers".

 The debate, is scheduled to continue until Tuesday evening when the vote will be called. He regretted that the government had to seek a vote of confidence at a time when its attention was on the economy, controlling inflation and implementing welfare programmes, particularly for farmers.