In a fast moving development, the UPA government on Friday in order to fulfil its commitment of seeking voice of the Parliament on the nuclear deal declared a two-day special session of Parliament summoned on July 21 and 22 to enable it to seek a trust vote. With this, July 22 will be decisive for the UPA government to decide its future- survive or fall.
On July 21, vote of confidence will be presented in the Lok Sabha and the very next day, July 22, the special session will be concluded with the counting of votes. The information regarding the special session was sent to the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
The decision was taken at the meeting of Congress Working Committee called by the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at her residence on Friday evening followed by a separate meeting of UPA coordination committee in the morning. It was also decided in the CWC meeting to convene Congress' General Secretaries on Saturday to finalise a strategy as the government gets ready to face a trust vote on July 22.
The meeting was called to mark seal on the government's decision of seeking Parliament's vote of confidence after the Left's withdrawal of support to the government and the opposition's allegation that the UPA was in minority. The purpose was also to show the party's unity and commitment to the UPA's decision. The CWC supported the government's decision on nuclear deal and the trust vote.
The Congress' top policy deciding unit not only supported the government's decision on the nuclear deal, but also put seal on the friendship of new political friend, Samajwadi Party, which has no political value in the eyes of Congress four years ago. But the political equation now has completely changed as it is the SP with whose support the Congress making eye to eye contact with the Left daring to face trust vote in the Parliament. The CWC also kept the door open for coalition with Left in future, as no one is permanent enemy in politics, by praising their support to the government for the four years. However some of the members did not support the Left's friendship and now the Congress' increasing closeness with the SP.
Soon after the commencement of the proceedings, Janardhan Dwivedi laid emphasis on the Congress' unnatural alliance-first the Left and now with the SP costs the party heavy. “How can we take them head on? How do we meet this political challenge,” he asked. His contention that deal is not the prime issue, which the party should focus as a whole, also supported by Digvijay Singh and Ajit Jogi, who maintained that deal would not be an election issue. They suggested the party rather needs to focus on inflation and other critical issues.
Despite many leaders put forwarded their vital viewpoints in an influential manner, but it was Rahul Gandhi, the AICC general secretary, who clinched the day. Among many members who batted well, the 'Man of the Match' award went to Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi not only vehemently advocated the Prime Minister's, who was swinging on the wave of criticism for precipitating the Left's withdrawal, decision on the nuclear deal, but called the party members and workers to shed defensive approach on the deal while going among the mass. Instead, he advocated to adopt aggressive manner in retaliating Lefts and opponents on the nuclear deal. 'The deal is in favour of nation and the country will witness it in near future' he said. Even we do not need to care if the government falls on this issue.
A sneak look on Trust Vote
In May 1996, the Vajpayee government resigned before casting of votes after concluding a debate on confidence motion, looking no majority in the House. The government could survive only for 13 days from May 16 to May 28.
In 1999, after withdrawal of support by the Jayalalitha's AIADMK, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee sought a trust vote in the Lok Sabha, but lost by one vote.
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