Cracks appear in Congress support

New Delhi: Deep differences have surfaced within the regional Samajwadi Party over the party's decision to support the contentious Indo-US civil nuclear deal.

At least a dozen party lawmakers are opposed to voting in favour of the Congress party-led coalition government if a no-confidence motion is moved by any party during the forthcoming monsoon session of Parliament.

The support of the 39 Samajwadi Party lawmakers is crucial for survival of the government in view of the Left Front's decision yesterday to withdraw their outside support that has propped up the government for the past 50 months.

The Samajwadi Party parliamentary board formally announced its support to the government within hours of the incensed Left pulling the plug. However, the facade of unanimity started wearing off with reports that at least 12 MPs are in touch with the Bahujan Samaj Party, which rules Uttar Pradesh, and may vote against the government provided the BSP promises them nomination from their chosen constituencies during the resultant early polls.

Even in the unlikely event of all 39 Samajwadi Party MPs voting for the government, the ruling United Progressive Alliance will require support of at least seven other lawmakers to cross the halfway mark in Lok Sabha.

Channels

The Congress party has opened channels of communication with various smaller parties and has so far succeeded in roping in the Rashtriya Lok Dal of Ajit Singh and the Janata Dal (Secular) of former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda, which have three MPs each. However, the emerging dissension within the Samajwadi Party may upset all calculations. Three lawmakers - Mohan Singh, Reoti Raman Singh and Kritivardhan - failed to attend the parliamentary board meeting due to personal reasons.

Jayprakash, the MP from Mohanlalganj, is already leading the rebellion, while Raj Babbar, Beni Prasad Verma and Munnawar Hasan, who represents Muzaffarnagar seat, have been under suspension from the party.

Two MPs with criminal backgrounds may also fail to turn up in Lok Sabha for different reasons. While Atiq Ahmad is underground Afzal Ansari is in jail. Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who has opted to join hands with the Congress party, rubbished talk of rebellion in the party asserting that the party was united and would vote for the government