The role of Samajwadi Party, BSP and smaller parties backing the Centre from outside, would be important during the Budget Session of Parliament beginning on Thursday.
This is because the UPA’s numbers in the Lower House have come down following the exit of the Trinamul Congress on the issues of price rise and FDI in multi brand retail.
The SP (22) and the BSP (21) have together 43 members in the Lok Sabha. Besides, the JD-S (3), the YSR Congress Party (2), the TRS (2) and the JD-S (3) may not easily back the government ahead of elections. Therefore, the floor managers would have to work hard to keep atleast this bloc of 50 members in good humour during the session.
The regional parties in the UPA, NDA and outside would find it difficlult to justify the price rise directly or indirectly.
The session could unite the divided Opposition on the issues of price rise and scams. Parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath has called a meeting of chief whips of the ruling UPA on Tuesday to ensure coordination during the session. A meeting of the BJP parliamentary office bearers is scheduled on Tuesday which will soon be followed by a meeting of NDA to decide the strategy, BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said.
On the allegations of kickbacks in the purchase of 12 choppers for VVIPs, the government has already indicated that it was not averse to a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee, a demand made by the BJP and the Shiv Sena.
The left and the right have been aggressive on a number of issues including the chopper deal and “the plate is full” as an Opposition leader put it.
The other issues include corruption and inflation. Central trade unions, including Congress-affiliated INTUC, have given a strike call on February 20-21 on the government’s “inaction” on the issue of price rise and alleged violation of labour laws. The Opposition is also expected to raise matters like safety of women, killing of Indian soldiers by Pakistani troops on the LoC, increase in prices of diesel and petrol, hike in rail fare, the issue of separate Telangana and the alleged farm loan waiver scam.