UPA doesnt blink,keeps an eye on its numbers

With the Trinamool Congress still playing hardball,top government sources conceded on Wednesday that they had a problem with numbers. But they ruled out the possibility of a rollback even as they continued to negotiate to bring all allies on board. It seemed likely that the success or failure of these negotiations would determine the governments course of action.

On Wednesday,Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee called up NDA parliamentary chairman L K Advani with a compromise offer to bring an adjournment motion on the situation arising out of the cabinets decision on FDI in retail,but the opposition leader was said to have maintained that the demand for a rollback was non-negotiable.

The NDA and Left want the motion to mention a review or a rollback of the cabinet decision. With neither side appearing to blink,peace seemed unlikely to return to parliament on Thursday.

In what came as an indication of the governments resolve not to give in,Mukherjee explained to party MPs earlier in the day that an adjournment motion was at best a censure,not a vote of no-confidence in the government. The finance minister,who dwelt at length on the governments initiatives to tackle corruption and black money,told the MPs that Commerce amp; Industry Minister Anand Sharma would brief them on FDI in retail on Thursday.

Mukherjees peace overture to Advani capped day-long deliberations in the government camp,during which the Congress core committee met twice to discuss strategy. Mukherjee was closeted with senior ministers and party leaders at his residence till late on Wednesday night.

Mukherjee spoke by telephone with M Karunanidhi,after which the DMK chief appeared to tone down his partys opposition somewhat. UPA interlocutors were learnt to be engaged in discussions with Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjees lieutenants,Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi and MoS Health and Family Welfare Sudip Bandopadhyay.

We have the numbers, Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said,pointing out that if the government had agreed to accept an adjournment motion on black money,it had obviously checked its strength.

Asked if he was confident the allies would stay with the Congress,Tewari said,We are talking to them,but at the end of the day you will find a very constructive resolution of the entire process. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,Tewari said,had taken a well thought-out decision and the Congress fully supports the decision.

Anand Sharma,who joined the discussion in the core committee,told reporters that the BJP cannot accuse us of not having a full-fledged discussion in parliament8230; This was discussed and deliberated upon for over 40 minutes on August 3.

Like the BJP,the Left remained firm over the adjournment motion. They have to withdraw the FDI decision and then we will discuss, CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta told reporters. CPM parliamentary party leader Sitaram Yechury said,There should be a discussion in the house after a rollback of the decision.