Mudslinging, deals overshadow confidence vote

Unheard of political alliances. Accusations of vote-buying to the tune of more than $6 million an MP. Criticisms of shady corporate lobbying with one of the world's richest men.

With the fate of the government dependent on a confidence vote on Tuesday, mudslinging and deal-making are in full swing and even sullying the relatively clean image of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Singh, a soft-spoken former finance minister, was forced to call a confidence vote after his communist allies withdrew their support for the government to protest a civilian nuclear deal with the United States.

Singh believes he will survive the vote after securing support of the regional Samajwadi Party. The vote is essentially between a ruling Congress party coalition and the Hindu nationalist-led opposition and the communists.

If the government loses the vote, early elections will be called, probably this year. It will lead to political uncertainty just as the government battles rising inflation and interest rates, as well signs of fiscal strains and economic slowdown.

"The prime minister expressed confidence that the people of India understood the significance of the initiatives being taken by the UPA government and endorse them," according to a statement by the prime minister's office late on Tuesday.

The vote will likely hang on a score of votes, mainly from smaller parties and independents, in the 543-member parliament.

So close is the vote, parties from all sides have stepped up their battles and rhetoric to secure votes.

"The government will not survive the trust vote even when it's indulging in large-scale horse trading," Vijay Kumar Malhotra, a senior leader of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, told the Indian Express.

He estimated the government only had 250 votes of the 272 needed for a majority.

The communists, angry at what they see as the government's betrayal over a nuclear deal they say makes India a pawn of Washington, announced an alliance with Mayawati, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, over the confidence vote.

It was an unheard of alliance and a sign of high stakes of the vote. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Mayawati, one of India's best known politicians, have been enemies for years.

The government's own alliance with Samajwadi has sparked criticism the prime minister was allowing his government to bend to its conditions, from judicial probes into political enemies of the party to helping corporate allies of the regional party.

The timing of news that the CBI could probe Mayawati, raised criticism of an under-the-table deal. Mayawati is the main political enemy of the Samajwadi.

The communists also sparked a storm with accusations that MPs were being bribed for their support.

A.B. Bardhan, head of the Communist Party of India, said the going rate was around $6 million to guarantee a vote. He produced no evidence, although India has seen a string of scandals in recent years when MPs have accepted bribes to change sides.

The prime minister sparked more criticism for meeting with one of the feuding billionaire Ambani brothers, whose businesses make up about 5 percent of the Asian giant's economic output.

Samajwadi's leader Amar Singh has close links to Anil Ambani, the head of Reliance Communications, who has been in a long dispute with his even richer and elder brother Mukesh, chairman of Reliance Industries.

So when Mukesh Ambani met the prime minister on Monday, it sparked headlines that he was trying to defend his business interests amid fears his brother now enjoyed greater access to the government thanks to his SP links.

The meeting followed Amar Singh saying his party would push for a windfall tax on private oil refiners, a move that would directly hurt Mukesh's business.

"The new found friendship with the likes of Amar Singh ... the sudden entry of corporate bosses in the picture have clouded the image of probity which the prime minister has assiduously built up over the years," the Asian Age said in an editorial.

Sources:

http://in.news.yahoo.com/137/20080716/736/tnl-mudslinging-deals-overshadow-confide.html

NATIONAL INTERESTS ABANDONED,CENTRE LOYAL TO U.S : BIMAN BOSE IN LONDON

Withdrawal of the left parties has come as a result of the indifference of the U.P.A government towards the interests of the country.

These words came from the veteran Mr.biman bose,secretary, C.P.I.M state committee at a convention arranged at the asian centre in London,this sunday.Bose will be attending a number of conventions regarding education and some other subjects as well.Here,at the convention arranged by the communist association of Great Britain and the Indian workers association of Great Britain, he discussed about the contemporary political scenario in india.After his discusion he answered a number of questions on the political situation in India and West Bengal,experiences of the state government,its take and steps on industrialization and education and finally its role in the economic development of the state.A large number of N.R.I s were present at the gathering.

According to the communist leader " we forbade them from the beginning to proceed towards the nuclear deal overlooking the national interests and harming the independent foreign policy.but they did'nt listen.we have emphasized to avoid neglecting common interests,and to check the rise in prices of essential commodities.But perhaps the UPA is more keen in getting enlisted to the US goodbook.For these reasons the communists have withdrawn their support from this hopeless government."

Mr. Aftab Saddique,president,communist association of Great Britain and Mr. Hershed Bent,general secretary,Indian workers' association of Great Britain also shared their views.Dr Sunil Bhaduri presided over the convention.

Mr.Biman Bose recalled the picture during the establishment of this government,the deficit of adequete number of seats,and the role of the left parties in bringing the UPA to power."The primary goal was to maintain religious harmony within the country,thwarting racial BJP.That never meant though ,that we wholeheartdly supported each and every steps of the UPA government.The Left Front has voiced its protests whenever the common interests were overlooked and has expressed its concern.On quite a number of such cases the UPA has been forced to retreat.",basu said.

He added, "We not only emphasized on removing racial discrimintion but also on taking care of the interests of the common people.

That is why a common minimum protocol was formed.But the UPA government was devaiting from this protocol and was taking multiple steps risking the the public interest.We responded with concern.But now admist this shameless US flattery of the UPA and its proceedings over the deal,we will be the last one to support them."

Many asked him the reason for staying 30 years of long period in government.He explained that the left front government is focussed at meeting the needs of the poor people ,more specifically common people."There are still a lot of things to be done.Percentage of people living below the poverty level has decreased.Caring about the interests of the poor,developing the infrastructure of education,and creating more and more employment opportunities-these are the main objectives of this government,just like it has always been.Maintaining the success in agriculture , we have stressed on its betterment.Over it rests the agenda of industrialisation.Unfortunately people are being misguided over this aspect.The oppositions are creating a false agenda and have formed an unethical front.We observed it during the Panchayat elections.Because of this false and baseless campaigning of the opposition at some parts people have been influenced and we have'nt fared well.But CPI(M) has taken necessary remedial measures and is very eager to gain back the faith and confidence of those people.The left front is too trying its part.

The left front is dedicated to work for the poor and needy.It will maintain its tradition",bose confirmed.

(Translated from ganashakti,13th july,an article by indrajit chakravorty

translated by Koustav Ghosal,2nd yr,SFI unit member,

Netaji Subhash Engineering College)