17 December 2000
VAJPAYEE IN DOCK AGAIN AS GOVT SET TO LOSE IN RAJYA SABHA
From Jal Khambata
NEW DELHI: The Vajpayee Government is all set to lose in the voting to be held in the Rajya Sabha after a discussion on Monday on an Opposition-sponsored motion for resignation of the three Babri Mosque demolition-tainted Ministers as the ruling combine of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is 32 seats short of a majority.
This will be putting Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in a dilemma as he can not defy or refuse to respect the Rajya Sabha resolution once passed directing him to remove these ministers nor will he be ready to reverse his stand that the mere charge-sheet does not require their resignations.
The ruling combine's own strength is just 91 members, including 46 members of the Bhartiya Janata Party and 13 members of the supporting Telugu Desam Party, in the present House of 244 and as such it is in no position to muster the majority even if it secures the votes of all 12 nominated members and also pinches some from among 13 independents.
The Opposition, on the other hand, has the strength of 128, besides many from among the independents and the nominated members who would prefer to vote in support of the resolution instead of being seen as endorsing the Prime Minister's open lobbying for construction of the Ram Mandir on the disputed site of Ayodhya where the Babri Mosque was razed to ground by the Sangh Parivar volunteers in December 1992.
The ruling NDA had been resisting any discussion in the Rajya Sabha which entails voting because of its minority in the House, but it readily agreed for discussion under the House rule 170 on Thursday within minutes of its victory on the same issue in the Lok Sabha only because its leaders feel the Rajya Sabha voting is of no consequence once the Government has won in the Lok Sabha.
As the BJP leaders point out, there is no provision for a no-confidence motion against the Government in the Rajya Sabha and as such the Opposition resolution cannot be deemed to be such a motion to censure the government, forcing its removal from power. "Only the Lok Sabha can unseat the government and our stand has been already endorsed by the Lok Sabha defeating the Opposition's attempt to censure us," the BJP leaders affirm.
The Congress leaders, however, point out that the resolution specifically calls for resignation of Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti from the Union Cabinet and as such these ministers will be left with no alternative but to resign in deference to the Rajya Sabha's decision.
Although the Government does not stand voted out because of the Opposition's victory, yet all the same it has to respect and accept the resolution of the Rajya Sabha if passed by a majority vote, the Congress leaders affirm.
The NDA has already asked all its constituents to issue a whip to their members to remain present in the Rajya Sabha in full strength to vote against the resolution that may be put to vote on Tuesday or even late Monday evening if the debate concludes early. Its managers are also lobbying with the nominated and independent members as also one-member parties to abstain or vote against the resolution.
The line-up of the ruling NDA in the Rajya Sabha is:
BJP 46
TDP 13
DMK 9
Shiv Sena 5
Akali Dal 5
Biju JD 3
NC (J&K) 3
Lok Dal 2
Samta Party 1
Loktantrik Cong 1
Haryana
Vikas Party 1
Himachal
Vikas Party 1
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Total 91
The Opposition's line-up to defeat the Government is:
Congress 57
CPM 15
RJD 10
SP 8
JD 6
CPI 6
AIADMK 5
BSP 4
RSP 3
TMC 3
Muslim L. 2
NCP 2
JMM 2
Kerala Cong 1
RPI (Gavai) 1
Sikkim Demo
Front 1
AGP 1
Autonomous
State Comm. 1
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Total 128
Besides, there are 13 independents and 12 nominees. Most of the independents have, however, been elected with the support of one or the other party and as such they are bound to vote as per their affiliations. There are, however, more or less equally divided between NDA and the Opposition. END.