The Hindu : NDA to decide strategy today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 29, 2002

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NDA to decide strategy today

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI APRIL 28. The constituents of the National Democratic Alliance, who spoke against the continuation of the Narendra Modi Government in Gujarat, are yet to finalise the party stand on the discussion in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The discussion under Rule 184, which entails voting, is being seen by the Opposition as an opportunity for the "secular-minded" allies of the NDA to record a definitive opinion in the House.

The NDA would meet here tomorrow to draw up its strategy ahead of the April 30 discussion.

The Opposition-sponsored motion was admitted by the Deputy Speaker, P.M. Sayeed last week. The NDA convenor, George Fernandes, has called a meeting of the allies on Monday evening.

The meeting would be chaired by the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee.

For the past few weeks, the Opposition leaders have been challenging the BJP allies, such as the Telugu Desam Party, the Janata Dal (United), the Lok Janshakti and the Trinamool Congress to keep off the BJP.

The Janata Dal (United) MPs who were vociferous in their protest against the continuing violence in Gujarat and demanded the immediate removal of Mr. Modi, would have an opportunity to take a stand at the parliamentary party meeting.

Although no official meeting has been scheduled, party sources said a discussion would be held after the MPs return here to attend the session tomorrow.

The JD-U has six MPs including the Union Minister, Sharad Yadav.

Just as the Telugu Desam, some allies who had joined the chorus appear to adopt a cautious line and watch the course the debate on the issue takes.

While the Trinamool Congress had earlier suggested that it would follow the TDP, the party chief, Mamata Banerjee, said that it would not like to side with any move that was against the Vajpayee Government.

Meanwhile, the BJP has found a new ally in the Bahujan Samaj Party. With 13 MPs, if the party decides to vote against the Opposition-sponsored motion, it would mean a major shift in its stance.

Alternatively, it could abstain from voting. The BSP Parliamentary Party is expected to meet on the day of the debate to firm up the stand.

NC decision on Tuesday

PTI reports from London:

The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference president, Farooq Abdullah, tonight said that his party, which has five MPs in the Lok Sabha, would decide on Tuesday whether or not to support the Government on the censure motion.

In Delhi, the NC MP, Abdul Rashid Shaheen, said a ``strong section'' of the party favoured abstaining from voting on the motion in the Lok Sabha.

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