BJP works on no-trust motion

The BJP is mooting a no-confidence motion against the UPA Government, and the issue will figure prominently in the NDA meeting...

The BJP is mooting a no-confidence motion against the UPA Government, and the issue will figure prominently in the NDA meeting scheduled for Monday. 8220;We will discuss a no-confidence motion against the UPA Government in the NDA meeting,8221; BJP deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Vijay Kumar Malhotra told The Indian Express.

After having to bite the dust in the July 22 trust vote, that was also marred by large-scale defections from within its ranks, the BJP is keen to try out every possible measure to put the UPA Government on the backfoot. The BJP is also discussing if a no-trust motion should be introduced by a 8220;third party like the TDP8221; that will bring the entire non-UPA parties on one platform. 8220;After the July 22 setback, we8217;ll see if the 8216;cash-for-vote-scandal tapes8217; can be used to mobilise the entire opposition, including the Left,8221; said a senior BJP leader.

Various NDA allies, however, don8217;t share the BJP8217;s enthusiasm for a no-trust vote. Allies like the JDU, the Shiv Sena and the Biju Janata Dal are likely to talk about the 8220;futility of such an exercise8221; immediately after the UPA Government secured a vote of confidence, in Monday8217;s meeting. The constitutional position, though, says expert Subhash C Kashyap, doesn8217;t prevent a party from moving a no-confidence motion. 8220;The confidence motion was discussed as an ordinary motion. So, constitutionally there8217;s no bar for a party on bringing a no-trust vote, though the final decision rests with the Speaker,8221; he told this paper.

The BJP will also discuss the 8220;dropping8221; of four members 8212; Shiv Sena8217;s Anant Geete, Biju Janata Dal8217;s Braj Kishore Tripathi, CPI8217;s Gurudas Dasgupta and Nationalist Congress Party8217;s Srinivas Patil 8212; from the 8220;Committee to inquire into misconduct of MPs8221; for a new seven-member ad hoc committee to probe the 8220;cash-for-votes scandal8221;.

The BJP argues that with the Left withdrawing support to the UPA Government, the ruling alliance has been reduced to a minority in the 11-member panel, but in the newly-constituted panel, 8220;it8217;s the UPA that has an upper hand8221;. All the seven members of the new panel figured on the 8220;misconduct panel8221;. A BJP ally, however, had a different take. 8220;It8217;s the Speaker8217;s prerogative to constitute a panel, but we8217;ll discuss the issue in the meeting,8221; said the leader of an NDA constituent.

The NDA meeting could also call for referring the case of Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and Congress leader Ahmed Patel 8212; who have been named along with another SP leader Reoti Raman Singh in the BJP8217;s complaint to the Lok Sabha Speaker 8212; to the Rajya Sabha ethics panel 8220;since they happen to be members of the Upper House8221;.