India's BJP Defiant Amid Row on State Govt. Sacking
February 25, 1999 - 0:0
NEW DELHI India's Bharatiya Janata Party dug its heels in on Wednesday, saying the coalition government it leads would not resign if it lost a key parliamentary vote over imposition of federal rule in the state of Bihar. It doesn't warrant any resignation of the government, Party Spokesman Krishan Lal Sharma told reporters when asked if the fragile coalition would quit if it failed to win the required numbers on the issue in the Lower House of parliament.
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee summoned his cabinet colleagues for a third meeting in 24 hours on Wednesday as opposition groups closed ranks against the imposition of direct rule in the crime-ridden eastern state. The resolution seeking approval of the decision to sack an opposition-led government in Bihar was due to be presented to the Lower House of Parliament, where the Vajpayee government has a wafer-thin majority.
Bihar is listed for discussion today. Voting will take place on February 26, minister for parliamentary affairs P.R. Kumaramangalam said after the cabinet meeting. Last week, the BJP and its allies directly controlled some 266 seats in the 545-member Lower House, but lost four lawmakers when a regional party pulled out of the alliance over hikes in state-administered prices. Another key regional group, the Telegu Desam Party (TDP), which bailed out the Vajpayee government during a confidence vote that went down to the wire last year, was keeping its cards close to the chest.
We have not yet taken a decision, there is still some time, said Yerran Naidu, leader of the TDP, which has 12 lawmakers. The TDP, like several regional Indian parties, has consistently opposed sacking of provincial governments by the center saying that such powers have been used to settle political scores. The resolution must also be ratified by the Upper House of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha, where the BJP is in a minority.
It is true that we are in a minority in the Rajya Sabha, BJP spokesman Venkaiah Naidu told Reuters. If it comes to that, so be it, we will tell the nation we did our constitutional duty. BJP leaders blamed bitter rival, Congress, for muddying the waters. It was being said that Congress was not playing a destabilising role. Now it is clear that it will not miss an opportunity, Sharma said.
Congress, the main opposition party which had earlier criticized the regional party-led government in Bihar for failing to control caste violence, said it would fight the imposition of federal rule in the state. The fate is sealed, said Congress spokesman Ajit Jogi. (Reuter)
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee summoned his cabinet colleagues for a third meeting in 24 hours on Wednesday as opposition groups closed ranks against the imposition of direct rule in the crime-ridden eastern state. The resolution seeking approval of the decision to sack an opposition-led government in Bihar was due to be presented to the Lower House of Parliament, where the Vajpayee government has a wafer-thin majority.
Bihar is listed for discussion today. Voting will take place on February 26, minister for parliamentary affairs P.R. Kumaramangalam said after the cabinet meeting. Last week, the BJP and its allies directly controlled some 266 seats in the 545-member Lower House, but lost four lawmakers when a regional party pulled out of the alliance over hikes in state-administered prices. Another key regional group, the Telegu Desam Party (TDP), which bailed out the Vajpayee government during a confidence vote that went down to the wire last year, was keeping its cards close to the chest.
We have not yet taken a decision, there is still some time, said Yerran Naidu, leader of the TDP, which has 12 lawmakers. The TDP, like several regional Indian parties, has consistently opposed sacking of provincial governments by the center saying that such powers have been used to settle political scores. The resolution must also be ratified by the Upper House of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha, where the BJP is in a minority.
It is true that we are in a minority in the Rajya Sabha, BJP spokesman Venkaiah Naidu told Reuters. If it comes to that, so be it, we will tell the nation we did our constitutional duty. BJP leaders blamed bitter rival, Congress, for muddying the waters. It was being said that Congress was not playing a destabilising role. Now it is clear that it will not miss an opportunity, Sharma said.
Congress, the main opposition party which had earlier criticized the regional party-led government in Bihar for failing to control caste violence, said it would fight the imposition of federal rule in the state. The fate is sealed, said Congress spokesman Ajit Jogi. (Reuter)