FDI in retail: Govt bracing for a stormy winter session

Pressure is growing on the Congress and the United Progressive Alliance government to accept a discussion on Foreign Direct Investment in retail under voting provision even as the Mamata sponsored no-confidence motion appears to be dying a natural death as so far there are no takers for the motion.

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance which met on Tuesday evening has given no commitment to supporting the no-confidence motion, merely saying they will talk to other parties and explore the option. But the NDA was firm in opposing FDI in retail saying they will move a resolution that it should be voted upon. The government has steadfastly refused to accept the FDI debate under a voting rule with sources disclosing that the government will only accept this if it is sure it has the numbers.

At the moment the numbers are looking dicey for the government with both the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam opposing FDI along with the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Left parties, the BJP and sundry. For the Opposition it is easy to embarrass the government by voting down retail in FDI and will be seen as a big victory for the Opposition parties in its campaign that the government is pursuing anti-people and anti-poor policies.

For the Congress, the biggest asset at the moment is the BJP which is trapped in an internal war of huge proportions and an early election simply does not suit the beleaguered BJP which is trying to keep its house in order. Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha has sounded the panic button for the BJP by asking for the resignation of party president Nitin Gadkari on the grounds that public figures must be above reproach.

The internal politics of the BJP clearly states that Sinha may have acted at the behest of L K Advani who is working overtime to capture the reins of the party in a bid to establish his leadership. Earlier Sinha had moved against Gadkari along with Ram Jethmalani who had said that Gadkari must go. The party has disapproved Sinha's demand and asked him to reconsider what he has said against Gadkari. Obviously the RSS is still backing Gadkari and does not want such demands against him to be raised in the party.

As the winter session approaches, the Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath has met the chief whips of all political parties as well as senior leaders of various political parties. The Trinamool Congress has made it clear to him they would be moving the no-confidence motion against the government on the first day.  But with Mamata Banerjee not getting support from any political party and with the Communist Party of India-Marxist refusing to support her motion, she has given a counter offer that she would be willing to support a no-confidence motion moved by the CPM. This offer appears to make it clear that Mamata is not getting support from any major political formation.

The Congress has been dismissive of Mamata saying a party with 19 MPs cannot dream of taking on the government. But regardless of the viability of the motion, it is clear that the winter session would be a stormy one with the government in the dock on a large number of issues and even allies like the DMK having raised the pitch against the government. With the government's swiftly dwindling numbers, the government managers would need to be on red alert as any emergencies and casualties may be the order of the day.