Parties gear up for trust vote debate

By Venkatesh Kesari

New Delhi

July 17: It is unclear whether the DMK, NCP and LJP leaders would take on the Left parties in the debate in the Lok Sabha, but Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav would not hesitate, sources said.

Parliamentary affairs minister Vayalar Ravi on Thursday said, "The house (UPA) is intact and we will pass the floor test smoothly and comfortably."

Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi has yet to make up his mind whether or not to take part in the debate, the sources said. A section of Congress MPs and CWC members does not want the young Gandhi to speak on it, fearing it could send the wrong message to the minorities. Mr Rahul Gandhi has been backing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the nuclear deal.

Meanwhile, Independent MP from Amroha Harish Nagpal, elected with Congress backing, appeared at a press conference at the BJP headquarters and announced he would vote against the government on July 22.

The National Loktantrik Party, with one MP supports the UPA from outside. It will issue a whip to its member Baleshwar Yadav to vote against the government with a rider.

NLP president Arshad Khan said the party has taken this decision as the government "has not cared to draft a letter seeking our support for the confidence motion".

He, however, said if the party is approached by the ruling coalition in the next few days, the NLP might reconsider.

The SP, while submitting a fresh letter of support for the UPA to the President, had claimed on July 9 that the NLP MP would vote in favour of the UPA. Asked whether his MP would follow the party’s directive on the trust vote, Mr Khan said, "Let’s see on the day of the trust vote. If he (Yadav) doesn’t follow the party dictum, we will reach out to the masses."