The UPA lacks majority in the Rajya Sabha. Its strength in the House of 245 members including the nominated members is 96. This means that the Congress-led coalition has to depend on the BSP (15),Samajwadi Party (9), RJD (2), LJP (1). All these parties have been backing the government from outside.
The All-India Trinamul Congress (9) and the DMK (6) are neither with the NDA nor with a third alternative after quitting the UPA on certain issues.
On the other hand the Janata Dal (United) (9) has to take a clear stand after quitting the NDA on the Narendra Modi issue.
The supporting parties, TMC, DMK and JD(U) are also fighting against the Congress in UP, Bihar, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
If the Food Security Bill would help the Congress in the coming Lok Sabha elections then these non-Congress parties would certainly think that they too stand to gain by its implementation.
The Opposition parties know well that the food security would be the Congress’ main electoral plank which it would make the Oppostion’s attack on the UPA on the issues of inflation, unemployment, scams and scandles blunt.
If the Congress is playing electoral politics behind this bill why can’t the Opposition, ask some non-UPA leaders.
A senior BJP leader recalled how the Congress party had opposed the NTR government’s programme of providing rice at `two per kg in Andhra Pradesh.
The Congress does not want its food security programme to benefit non-Congress state governments.
That is why the spin doctors have decided to name it after Rajiv Gandhi.
While the Samajwadi Party is not comfortable with the bill, the Opposition party-ruled states such as Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh will not like to play second fiddle to the Congress.