Mayawati’s BSP withdrew outside support to the UPA government today plunging the government in yet another crisis after double digit inflation and CPI(M) ultimatum on 20th June’08. The withdrawal 17 MPs of BSP, reduces the strength of UPA from 307 MPs to 290 MPs slightly higher than minimum 272 required for absolute majority in the Lower house. So there is no immediate threat to the Government.
However, if Left parties withdraws support after 25th June’08 as per ultimatum of CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, the strength of UPA would reduce to 230MPs, way below 272 mark. In that case even Samajwadi Party (SP) with its 39 MPs would not be able to bail Manmohan Singh out.
On the back of the ultimatum, CPI(M) today mounted attack on Government by accusing it of a ‘massive disinformation campaign’ to promote a bad nuclear deal and thereby indirectly trying to forge strategic ties with US. Amid mounting tensions, Prakash Karat fixed a meeting with DMK chief M.Karunanidhi in chennai tomorrow to explain the left’s position. The left is also in touch with Mulayam Singh to ensure that SP does not side up with government on the N-deal issue.
Even congress itself appears to have nudged the PM to get over N-deal and shift focus to economy. The party is clearly in no position to let the government fall and face the election on nuclear deal issue as the people of India at large, are less interested on N-issue and require immediate relief in prices. So in all probability it appears that Mayawati has given the final blow to the N-deal.