UPA will remain strong, stable: Cong on MIM's exit

Congress on Monday claimed that the United Progressive Alliance government is "strong and stable" despite the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen becoming the third constituent to withdraw support after Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and Babualal Marandi's Jharkhand outfit.

Party spokesman Sandeep Dikshit also said the UPA has "got the numbers required" in Parliament and would prove its majority whenever required. He said that the Congress-led coalition will get the support of various parties when the government puts forth positive reforms initiatives.

"We already have the support of parties. We will continue to have majority. We still enjoy the support of 280-300 members (in the Lok Sabha). It is a strong and stable government and I have no doubt it will remain a strong and stable government," he told reporters. The strength of Lok Sabha is 543.

Dismissing charges by MIM that the Andhra Pradesh government has taken a communal stand and is giving a free run to Sangh Parivar activists, he said the basic principle of chief ministers in Congress-ruled states is secularism and any allegation to the contrary to it is denied.

Refuting suggestions that Congress was bad at running coalitions, he said withdrawal of support by MIM and Mamata Banerjee's party was for "local reasons" and had nothing to do with any policy issue.

He evaded questions as to whether the Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party will support the government if Banerjee brings a No-Confidence Motion against it in the winter session of Parliament starting on November 22.

MIM, which has a lone member in Lok Sabha and seven members in the state assembly, withdrew support to the UPA at the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh government, accusing the Congress government there of giving a free run to Sangh activists.