The opposition is visibly divided, with the Left and its supporters looking the other way, but BJP is refusing to relent. It is firm on its position that a discussion on price rise should be held in both Houses of parliament under rules that provide for voting.
In this situation, the monsoon session of parliament is set to reopen on a stormy note on Monday. Particularly since the government’s proposal to allow it to adopt anti-inflation resolutions in both Houses has not found favour with BJP.
A last-ditch effort to convince the opposition, particularly BJP, for a mutually-agreed formula to end the impasse is likely to be made by finance minister and leader of Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee on Monday morning. There are indications that Mukherjee may invite senior BJP leaders for a discussion over breakfast before parliament resumes business.
BJP seems to have preempted the government move and has served fresh notices both in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for a discussion under rules (168 and 184, respectively) that entail voting.
The government too has upped the ante. In fact, the UPA dispensation has served a similar notice in Lok Sabha for discussion under rules that do not require voting. “Our allies — Trinamool Congress and DMK — have already given notices for discussion under rule 193. The government is prepared for a threadbare discussion under this rule,” parliament affairs minister Pawan Bansal said.
What is significant from the UPA point of view is that the Left and its supporting outfits such as Mulayam Singh Yadav’s mostly UP-centric Samajwadi Party and Lalu Prasad’s RJD do not want to be publicly seen sharing a platform with BJP. Both Lalu, who faces assembly elections in Bihar later this year, and Mulayam are trying hard to regain Muslim support base. The UPA may well cash in on this disunity.
