Government Braves the Confidence Motion with Calmness and Confidence

Poor Quality of Debate dooms the Left's Dream of Toppling the Government (By Gopal Misra in New Delhi )

The left parties and their cohorts, who were confident till yesterday of defeating the confidence vote in the Lok Sabha, appear to have lost their fighting spirit within a couple of hours of the discussion on the Confidence Vote today.

Those expecting a high voltage substantial discussion on the Confidence Motion were dismayed following witnessing a lackluster, but bitter debate, which betrayed the decline of the quality of debating skills of the lawmakers in the Indian Parliament. The debate today failed to pin point the government's weak points. It showed a fragmented approach of the opposition benches.

During the past half-a-century of the democratically elected governments, eight trust votes were tabled. Of them six were won by the government of the day. On two occasions, the government lost the confidence of the House and fresh polls were ordered.

During his three tenures the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpeyi, faced three confidence votes—1996, 1998 and 1999, with his party losing the last one by a solitary vote at 269 to 270.

The left parties continued their tirade against the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government only focusing on the proposed Indo-US civil nuclear agreement. L.K. Adveni, the leader of the country's main opposition, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) stated that his party was not opposed to the proposed agreement, but he felt that if voted to power his government would renegotiate the deal. However, the left continued its anti-US stance.

While the left parties are keen to form a new government under the leadership of UP Chief Minister, Mayawati, the BJP is for immediate dissolution of the House.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh successfully foiled BJP's most of the criticism on the issue of price rise by telling the House that the UPA Government should not be asked to seek a confidence vote, the government should have been allowed tot tackle this problem.

The left parties candidate for the high office of the Prime Minister, Mayawati, who is camping in New Delhi , today asked the government to postpone the nuclear deal for the new government. It means that if the present government loses its majority, the elections will be declared. There is no hope for his immediate installation as the Chief Executive of the country.

The present tally shows that the ruling alliance may tide over the Confidence Vote scheduled for tomorrow evening.

The UPA is hoping to get one vote each from the MNF, NPF and