TNI Bureau: BJP might be looking for early polls, but Congress-led UPA government looks confident that it will survive without the support of Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress.
After Trinamool pulled out of the government demanding rollback in diesel prices, FDI in retail and increase the subsidised cylinders to 12, the Congress is struggling to save the sinking boat.
While, Mamata is adamant of not giving any support to the government, the Congress stayed firm on its decision on diesel prices and FDI in retail.
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The UPA is approaching Mulayam Singh and Mayawati for support after the TMC declared that its ministers will submit resignation to the government on Friday. The latest reports said, even Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is on his 5-day tour in Delhi, has been approached for support. However, Naveen may reject the proposal as there is rivalry between Congress and BJD in Odisha.
The question arises, will the UPA II survive the number game? Mamata-led TMC has 19 members in Lok Sabha. Without TMC, the UPA has 254. The government needs 271 for majority. If the BSP and RJD back the Congress, the number will increase to 279 without TMC.
Here is the number game:
Majority: 271
UPA’s strength – TMC (19): 254
UPA+BSP(21)+RJD(4) = 279
Outside support: SP (22) BSP (21)