Mamata no-trust move may fall flat
Realising that she may be isolated in her attempt to table a no-confidence motion against the UPA-2 government, a desperate Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that her party was ready to even support a Left-sponsored motion on the issue of foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail. Meanwhile, senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury on Tuesday said his party would not support the move to bring a no-confidence motion in the Winter Session of Parliament as it would provide the UPA government an escape route. While the CPI(M) toughened its stand on Tuesday, the CPI was still divided over the issue.
Ms Banerjje said that she was even willing to visit the CPI(M) headquarters on Alimuddin Street to discuss the matter with CPI(M) state secretary Biman Bose. Ms Banerjee’s desire to join hands with even her bete noire showed to what length she was willing to go in her bid to topple the Manmohan Singh government.
“I appeal to the CPI(M) to not bail out this minority government which is neck deep in corruption and which is constantly taking anti-people decisions,” she said
Significantly, only a day earlier, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat had rejected her appeal to support the no-trust vote which the Trinamul Congress had planned to move in Lok Sabha on November 22.
Not willing to take no for an answer, Ms Banerjee said that if the Left could not support her no-trust motion then she would back their motion.
“I have heard that the CPI(M) has said that it cannot support the Trinamul Congress’ no-confidence motion. If they have reservation about our party sponsoring the motion, let the CPI(M) bring it, we will support, provided there is assurance that they will not withdraw it midway striking a deal with Congress. If the issue is same, there is no objection in supporting their motion,” she said.
She revealed that she had called up CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta and urged him to take the initiative of persuading the Left Front to bring in a no-trust motion against the UPA. Trinamul Congress sources said Ms Banerjee made the passionate appeal to the CPI(M) because she was not sure about the BJP response.
“Moreover, she has realised that the Muslims of Bengal are watching closely her growing ties with the BJP. She feels that the Muslims will not have any objection if she joins hands with the CPI(M) to topple the UPA government,” a Trinamul Congress MP said.
The CPI brass will meet on Wednesday to take a final call on whether to support Mamata’s move.
On Tuesday, Mr Yechury said: “The point is not confidence or no-confidence, the point is to make the government reverse the anti-people policies that it is implementing.”
“Our priority is to stop that from happening and therefore we have moved our resolutions in the relevant clauses, which should be voted upon. Now, by bringing a no-confidence motion and by not being sure that you will get that passed in Parliament or in fact where all the numbers indicate to a contrary, bringing a no-confidence motion is only providing the government an escape route. And that is something, which we are not ready to,” he added.
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