New Delhi - The Indian parliament was due to hold a vote of
confidence Tuesday evening on the Congress party-led government,
which could lead to early polls or scupper a nuclear deal with the
United States.
The vote was called after the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA)
communist partners withdrew their support in protest at the nuclear
deal, which they say could impinge on India's sovereignty.
Under the nuclear agreement, the US would provide India fissile
material and technology for civilian reactors, ending a three-decade
ban. India would in turn open its civilian nuclear reactors to
international inspections.
The second day of debate on the confidence motion began amid noisy
scenes Tuesday as Finance Minister P Chidambaram taunted left-wing
members of parliament.
'There are some people in India who do not want us to catch up
with China. There are some people in this country who do not want us
to get ahead of China,' Chidambaram said, sparking protests from
communist MPs known to be ideologically close to China.
Later, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, scion of the Gandhi political
dynasty, said that energy would help India in achieving 9 per cent
economic growth, which was the way to fight poverty.
'The point is that if we don't secure our energy our growth will
stop,' he said.
But both the left parties and the main opposition National
Democratic Alliance have contended that the nuclear deal will impact
India's strategic independence and could prevent India from carrying
out further tests of nuclear devices.
Moments before the stormy session began, a confident Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh arrived at parliament flashing the V sign for
victory.
Singh was scheduled to reply to the debate Tuesday evening, after
which the confidence vote was expected to take place.
But even after weeks of horse-trading and defections, the vote was
expected to be close.
The government will survive if it obtains 271 votes out of 541 in
parliament.
Projections by Indian media said the UPA, whose seats have been
reduced to 226 after 59 lawmakers from the left withdrew their
support, would garner between 268 and 272 votes with help from the
regional Samajwadi Party and other smaller parties.
But the possibility of last-minute defections from the 34-member
Samajwadi has created a headache for the UPA.
Congress was also banking on nearly 10 abstentions from the
opposition NDA.
With every vote becoming crucial, six MPs serving jail terms were
released on bail to participate in the vote. Some parties also paid
for charter flights to bring in ailing lawmakers.
A defeat for the UPA would lead to early elections by November in
the country that faces slower economic growth and double digit
inflation. It could also spell the death of the nuclear deal.
The UPA government is scheduled to complete its five-year term in
May 2009.
USA
Your Talkback on this Story