Where They Stand

The Rashtriya Janata Dal is gearing up to ensure that all its 24 MPs, including two in jail...

8226;RJD: The Rashtriya Janata Dal is gearing up to ensure that all its 24 MPs, including two in jail 8212; Mohammad Shahabuddin Siwan and Pappu Yadav Madhepura 8212; cast their ballots during the trust vote on July 22. 8220;Our MPs who are in jail will petition the court on Tuesday to secure permission to attend the special session of the Lok Sabha. I am sure that there will be no problem as they had cast their votes during the President8217;s election8221;, RJD8217;s Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha Ramkripal Yadav said.

8226;ATIQ AHMAD: Contradicting the statement of Samajwadi Kranti Dal chief Beni Prashad Verma, jailed MP Atiq Ahmad opposed the India-US nuclear deal. He said that Verma was his well-wisher, but 8220;no discussion8221; was held between him and Verma regarding the deal. The jailed legislator remained non-committal on the issue of trust vote in the Lok Sabha. When asked whether he was going to join the Bahujan Samaj Party, Atiq said he would decide on the issue after coming out of jail.

8226;SUBHAS CHAKRABORTY: The CPI-M leader who is also West Bengal Transport and Sports Minister has decided to write to party general secretary Prakash Karat on the dangers of siding with the BJP in any confidence vote brought in Parliament by the Congress-led UPA Government. 8220;I am writing to Prakash Karat so that this decision is not taken,8221; Chakraborty said, adding, 8220;If we stand by the BJP and vote, it will take years to explain the blunder.8221;

8226;MAMATA BANERJEE: Though the Trinamool Congress has only one seat in Parliament, it could be a deciding factor if the vote is close. Party chief Mamata Banerjee8217;s decision on voting will depend on last minute calculations. 8220;I have not decided yet. I will decide on July 21 itself,8221; Banerjee said. Mamata also appeared to ignore the ongoing politics behind the trust vote. 8220;After seeing what is going on in Delhi, I feel I am more at peace managing my party affairs here,8221; Banerjee said.

8226;DAYANIDHI MARAN: Having fallen out with DMK patriarch and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, DMK member Dayanidhi Maran may abstain from the trust vote to show his displeasure with the party. Sources close to the former Union IT Minister said the option of voting against the trust motion does not arise as Maran enjoys an excellent rapport with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and MP Rahul Gandhi.nbsp;

8226;IUML: Indian Union Muslim League general secretary and Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed held one-to-one discussion with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Monday. Ahamed said he had conveyed his party8217;s apprehensions about the nuclear deal to Sonia. 8220;I will convey her reactions to my party leaders and will take a decision later,8221; he said.

8226;SADB: The Shiromani Akali Dal, which has eight Lok Sabha MPs in Punjab, will formalise its decision to oppose the Congress-led UPA at a meeting of its core committee on Tuesday. Ahead of the meeting, MP and president of SADB Sukhbir Singh Badal, who returned from Europe on Sunday, met senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on Monday afternoon.