Aided by a sudden turn around by BSP and friends-turned-foes SP and RJD, the government on Tuesday cleared the first major trial of strength in Lok Sabha by a big margin by defeating the cut motions on petroleum prices exposing huge chinks in opposition armour.
The much-hyped trial of strength proved to be a dampener when the cut motion moved by CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta on failure to formulate proper policies on petroleum products was defeated by a margin of 88 votes.
The motion received the support of 201 votes with 289 voting against it in a House of 543. The government breezed through the Opposition challenge helped largely by BSP's 21 MPs who voted with the treasury benches.
25 members of Samajwadi Party and RJD, which had during the day attacked the government on price rise and stalled both Houses of the Parliament, walked out of the House minutes before the vote on the cut motions.
Another surprise voter for the government was Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren, who runs the state government on BJP's support. Soren's action triggered speculation that a new political equation may be in the offing in Jharkhand where he may dump his ally BJP. A senior BJP leader said the party has taken note of Soren supporting the government on the cut motion.
The cut motion received the support of mainly BJP and its allies and Left Parties. Even their support of 222 was not fully recorded. Another cut motion of Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj was defeated 162-246 in a division.
Earlier in the day, the way for smooth passage of the demands was paved by BSP supremo and UP Chief Minister Mayawati who announced the party's support for the government to keep "communal forces" at bay from power in the centre.
A similar reason was advanced by RJD and SP before walking out of the House, minutes ahead of the voting. The BJP saw in it a government strategy of "misusing" CBI as a political instrument keeping the Damocles sword on "vulnerable" opposition leaders. Mayawati, however, sought to delink her party strategy from the CBI's disproportionate assets case filed against her. Interestingly, the CBI had last week told the Supreme Court that it was ready to consider Mayawati's plea for closure of the case.
Leader of the House and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee later said the demands for grants were passed as expected. Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal wondered what the NDA and the Left Parties have achieved when against their total strength of 222, they got the support of only 201.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was present during the 90-minute drama when almost the entire UPA was in full strength in the House.
The demands for grants were taken up for voting after Speaker Meira Kumar applied guillotine on the discussion on demands for grants for over 60 ministries.
After rejecting the Opposition cut motions, the Lok Sabha passed the demands for grants and the Appropriation Bill authorising payment of Rs 46,61,038 crore from the Consolidated Fund of India for 2010-11 without any discussion.
Only the demands for grants of three ministries were discussed by the Lok Sabha in the last few days. The voting on demands for grants today marks completion of the second stage of the budgetary process. The debate on Finance Bill will be taken up tomorrow and may be put to vote on Thursday.
While the House was adjourned till 6 pm without transacting any business with the non-NDA opposition disrupting proceedings on the issue of price rise, significantly SP and RJD walked out of the House despite attacking the government on the it.
The Speaker broke new grounds when she allowed voting on cut motions relating to ministries whose demands were not taken up for discussion saying members' constitutional right is superior to any rules and practices. In the past Speakers had disallowed voting on cut motions on demands for grants of ministries which were not taken up for discussion.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday hailed the government's victory saying it was an impressive approval to the demand of grants.
"The House has approved the demand for the grants decisively. It was expected. BSP supported us and our members were also present... It was an impressive approval the Lok Sabha has given to the demand of grants by rejecting the cut motion," Mukherjee told reporters outside Parliament.
Mukherjee also said the debate on the Finance Bill will be taken up on Wednesday and voting on it could take place either tomorrow or the day after.
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee chose the occasion to attack the Left for joining hands with BJP on the cut motion. "The problem with Left is they don't realise their position. They say something and do something. At the time of election, they raise their voice against BJP. I have seen in my state they work together," Banerjee said. She alleged the CPI-M even requests the BJP to work in its favour in the state.
Accusing the Left of "dirty politics", Banerjee said, "today also they have worked together. I am happy that they have been defeated."
"It is a democratic right to bring cut motion and this was defeated by the members of the House. So, we are happy that we are vindicated," she said.
About the walkout by Trinamool supported Independent member Tarun Mondal, she said, "This was their party's decision and we respect every political party's decision. But they have not voted against the government."
Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal said BJP wanted to become the fulcrum of the opposition but that has been demolished. PTI
