NEW DELHI: Majority of the six hawala tainted former Ministers are likely to vote for the Rao government if, at all, there is voting on the motion On Criticizing the government on hawala issue under Rule 184.
The former Ministers, who have been Charge sheeted in the hawala case, Balram Jakhar, Madhavrao Scindia, V.C. Shukla, Buta Singh, Arvind Netram and Kamal Nath, have hinted that they will vote against the motion and are “loyal Workers of the party.”
Although some of them expressed their unhappiness with the party high command for its rule in the hawala and are angry personally with the Prime Minister, Narasimha Rao, none ‘of them is expected to violate the party whip asking them to be present and support the ruling party, if there is vote.
When contacted, Balram Jakhar said he was a member of the party’s working committee and a loyal worker of the Congress.
The managers of the ruling party are not worried about the outcome of the vote. “It will be an overwhelming vote and will set at rest all speculation. No one will dare to vote with the movers of the motion,” claimed a Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, who is planning an active role in the Reestablishment.
In fact, the Congress party is hopeful that eight MPs belonging to the breakaway Congress, including Shiv Charan Mathur, PR Kumaramangalam, R. Prabhu, Vibbu Kumari and others will also vote against the motion.
The party whip does not apply to Arjun Singh, as he has been expelled from the party.
‘The latest party position in the Lok Sabha March 7th, shows that the ruling party has 258 MPs, It enjoys the support of at least eight more MPs belonging to smaller parties in a House of 514 with 30 vacancies. There are indications that 11member AIADMK, which has not yet announced its stand.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 13, 1996
