The UPA led by Congress won confidence vote with sensible margin of 19 votes in place of expected razor edged margin, thanks to manipulations or ‘Purchased votes’ as the people at large believes after seeing the money drama, which unfolded in the Lower House.
Otherwise too, the seven member of BJP voting for UPA and two remaining absent, was in itself a clear spell out to the people that there were ‘Purchased Votes’ indeed, otherwise how a cadre based party like BJP, being the principal opposition and aspirant for next government, could not keep its flock intact.
So, for the Congress it was a loss of prestige along side the win of confidence by the ‘Purchsed Votes’. In the end however, for the Congress, a WIN has balanced the loss of face in ‘Money Scandal’. Congress has also proved its conviction in the Nuclear Deal, which has now got the seal of approval from Parliament
The Mulayam floak was down by five from 39 to 34. Although this may have given a jolt to Samajwadi Party, but a loss of prestige or moral was not involved as because it was a case of personal principal for deserters over which SP could not have control and obviously money could not have played a roll. So for Mulayam also, WIN balanced a loss of five hens.
For the Left, which are the most disciplined and formidable combination, a loss in confidence motion was a win in public posture by strict voting and sending clear message to the people of their conviction. But they too lost some how in the end by having to expel a seasoned stalwart like the Speaker of the house Somnath Chatterjee.
The biggest looser of the battle were the BJP whose 7 MPs cross-voted and two remained absent. Of these 9, Karnataka- where the BJP formed the provincial government for the first time by ‘purchsing votes’ from Congress and JDS (a local party)- accounted for 4 and Congress took a sweet revenge on that count. This loss of face is going to cost BJP dearly in the next Parliamentary elections and life ambition of L.K.Adwani to become next Prime Minister may well have been nipped in the bud by this confidence vote.
The top gainer of this ballot battle was none other than Mayawati of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Since the advent of BSP in the nineties, the party has made strong inroads into the Indian heartland politics. Although by numbers of MPs the predominantly Dalit party may appear small, but it had been increasing its percentage of vote share in the Hindi belt. In UP, with a combination of Dalits and caste Brahmins, BSP was able to win the assembly elections uniquely without any form of coalition.
This confidence vote has given a new confidence to her party. Not only she has been able to keep her small flock of 17 intact, but also she has taken a toll of 5 MPs of SP. Even the Secretary of SP, Shahid Siddique has crossed over to SP. In the next parliamentary elections, she will have a much larger support of Muslims and in all likelihood BSP is set to become the largest party in UP.
So this confidence vote has set the stage for a third front, apart from NDA and UPA, under her leadership with patronage from the Left parties. This combination may even have a bigger role to play in National Politics than that played by Left Parties. Although it may sound highly optimistic at this juncture, but the buzz of Mayawati as next PM is already in the air now.
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