No threat to Government, says Harish Rawat

While Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress gears up to pull out from the UPA coalition at the Centre, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harish Rawat has expressed confidence that there was no threat to the UPA government.

According to Rawat, the number of Congress MPs in the lower house stands at 206 including Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar. With its UPA partners, the government has the support of around 250 members on the floor.

Including the outside support of 22 MPs from Samajwadi Party, 21 from Bahujan Samaj Party, 4 from RJD and 3 from Janta Dal (Secular), the figure in support of UPA stands roughly at 304.

With additional support of 14 non-Congress MPs from the Nort-East and other smaller parties, the figure in support of the Congress-led government would be 321.

Senior leaders in the Congress believe that the ruling alliance will still have the support of 321 members after Mamata walks away with her 19 members in a 545 member house.

The Congress crisis managers had also confirmed the support of around 321 members in the core group meet on Thursday. They even expressed confidence on roping in the support of YSR Congress if the need arises.

Another major relief for the UPA has come after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Orissa Chief Minister Navin Patnaik backed out from the BJP’s proposal to demand special session of the House. The BJP top brass was planning to bring no-confidence motion against the government in the special session.

In the meantime, the Congress core group is scheduled to meet in the national Capital here on Friday to discuss the emerging political scenario. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and General Secretary Rahul Gandhi with top party members would be attending the meeting.

After the meet, the Prime Minister is likely to address the nation on the ongoing political scenario and explain the compulsions behind taking harsh economic reforms. The PM may also address the benefits of FDI in retail.

No threat to Government, says Harish Rawat

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