NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narasimha Rao last week succeeded in defeating the combined opposition no confidence motion in parliament by an unexpectedly large margin of 14 votes. It turned out that the prime minister in a nightlong operation had “won over” seven of the 20member Ajit Singh group of members who voted for him and later joined the ruling Congress(I). Rao’s erstwhile allies, Janata Dal(Ajit) and the All India D.M.K. voted with the opposition, While the opposition stalwarts who spoke during the three-day long debate on the no confidence mouton highlighted the prime minister’s personal corruption and his softness towards the Hindu fundamentalism, Rao did not utter a word in his defense and “answered” the issues the opposition had never raised to effectively sidetrack the issue of corruption, As many as 251 members voted in favor of the C.P.(M) resolution of no confidence, 265 opposed it. Later commenting on the ruling party’s tactics to ensure the defeat of the motion, the BJP leader Atal Behari Vajpayee said “The Rao government was charged with corruption, But it indulged in more corruption who survive the motion,” C.P.(M) leader Somnath Chatterjee said that though the motion had been defeated, the opposition charge against the government had been vindicated. Rabi Ray of the Janata Dal said that the Congress(I) had lost right to continue because it had legitimized horse-trading. The C.P(M) politburo in a statement said that the Rao government had resorted to shameless use of money power and horse trading to remain in power.
Most sections of the Indian me media strongly condemned the immoral methods adopted by the Rao camp on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections. For instance, the Conservative The Hindu, in a rare FrontPage editorial said: “the crucial win robbed the Rao administration of much of its moral authority and political credibility. Unless the Rao government and the ruling party face the uncomfortable truth that Wednesday night’s win has served to dilute whatever remains of the administration’s credibility, its prospects would be very bleak.” The Times of India said that while the specter of destabilization had receded, the manner in which the Congress (I) survived Goes not inspire much confidence in either the party or its leader. Unless the ruling party provides a clean and purposeful administration, il may not survive the next time.” Most Indian cartoonists lampooned the prime minister’s victory through) their cartoons. The Economic Times displayed on the front page a cartoon showing Rao standing on a victory stand provided by a combination of suitcases, a Symbol of corruption.
Meanwhile, the Congress (I) dissidents have mounted an attack on the Rao leadership for admitting Ajitled “defectors” into the ruling party.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 6, 1993
