Cut motions | Govt confident as Oppn unity cracks

When Sushma Swaraj, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad, Sharad Yadav and Gurudas Dasgupta got their hands together, February 26 to proclaim that they would vote out Pranab Mukherjee's budget suggestion, it was hailed as a new union of anti-Congress parties.

But just before the Lok Sabha record budget requirements for endorsement Tuesday. Their plans for a joint strategy to corner the administration by moving the cut-motion "that shrinks

A cut-proposal requires cutting the budget for a symbolic one rupee to show condemnation. If the parliament approves it, the government has to leave.

With neither side wants to undermine the government now NDA has been changing its own divide cutting movements screwed fuel prices and reduced manure subsidies.

"The government is in a at ease position," said Parliamentary Affairs Minister PK Bansal.

He could claim this as the resistance was divided, while the UPA - in a three-part strategy - met their MPs by sending a whip, reached out to group and tried to persuade critics to be not present.

UPA has support of 271 MPs in the 543-member House, and is sure of defeating any cut motion: There were signs that the Liberals would not vote with the BJP, perhaps RJD not contribute in the vote - a sign that the government had hired back channels - and Mayawati BSP '21 member, who will not on the same side as the SP, the tacit support UPA.

The 13-member NDA, non-UPA group - which includes the Left, SP and RJD, secretarial for 87 MPs - seem more intent on Tuesday Bandh against price rise than the cut motion.

Says an RJD leader: "What is the purpose of approaching for a cut motion when a whole cluster of claims will be voted on, and we will not be able to tell people what our cut motions about? ..." Furthermore, let He added: "When have we ever remove our support to the UPA?

"We feel that Mulayam and Lalu has damaged their resolve to oppose the government," said a top BJP leader.

Party leaders said they would be "just happy" if they can secure the attendance of 116 MPs and so many of the 37 NDA members to register their devices.

The BJP will also get Dumka MP Shibu Soren and his colleague JMM Kameshwar Baitha (Palamau) to participate.