New Delhi: The DMK's split from the UPA seems complete. The government's dependence on the two warring giants of Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party, now increases ever more. A cornered Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday reached out to SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav over the tiff he had with UPA Cabinet minister Beni Prasad Verma the previous day. Beni Prasad Verma had accused Mulayam of harbouring links with terrorists. Mulayam, in turn, demanded that Verma be removed from the Cabinet.
Already in a precarious position in Parliament after the withdrawal of support by the DMK, the UPA tried to make amends on Wednesday. Beni Prasad Verma was made to apologise to Mulayam. The SP, however, said it will take a final call only after its party meeting on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the government managers continued their show of strength. Parliament Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said the government was "neither lame nor duck".
It is likely that the Samajwadi Party will continue outside support to the government but the repeated flip-flops by political parties are an indication of how tough the road ahead is likely to be for the government. Both the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party will try to extract their pound of flesh. At times, it may be difficult for the Congress. In fact, SP sources say that the party is looking for the right time and the right issue to dump the Congress.
The Congress, on the other hand, is pinning hope on the fact that most parties are not prepared for early elections. The resultant political chaos has left the UPA weak and vulnerable and has put a question mark on reforms bills, especially those relating to insurance, pension and tax reforms.
Comments
0 comment