With Janata Dal (A) leader Ajit Singh reiterating his decision to vote against the scamhit Rao Government, the Prime Minister ‘seems all set to face his toughest numerical test in the forthcoming, monsoon session of Parliament.

Singh said “there was no question” of his 20member group in the Lok Sabha voting to keep the Government in power unless the Prime Minister managed to convincingly clear himself of the charge levelled by “Big Bull” Harshad Mehta that he had accepted Rs 1 crore from him.

The Janata Dal (A) leader admit ted that there was yet no clinching evidence that Rao had received the money from “Big Bull,” but added that the credibility of the Government was at an all-time low and felt that no Opposition party could vote with the Government in case of a no trust move on.

The Congress has 251 members in the Lok Sabha which means that it is still 15 short of majority in the House with an effective strength of 533 members, After the breakup of the Cong AIADMK alliance, the Ajit Singh faction of the Janata Dal was considered the Rao Government’s last major supporter. It is clear that the floor managers of the Congress Parliamentary Party will now have to work overtime to get the support of the five members of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, two from the Indian Union Muslim League, eight Independents and six members from the other smaller parties to stay afloat.

Much, however, depends on the determination of the Opposition parties to bring down the Government on the issue and risk at early Lok Sabha election. Although Ajit Singh says that he will vote against the Government “election or no election,” some other Opposition groups, particularly the Left Par lies do not welcome risking a poll al this stage because this may benefit the BJP.

In the past, most no confidence motions against the Government have failed to even produce a tight finish with the Opposition groups unable to muster their full strength on the voting day,

Ajit Singh, though, insists that the collapse on the floor of the House “need not result in an election.” He says as per the constitution, even if the defeated Prime Minister were to advise the President to dissolve the Lok Sabha, the President is not bound to accept the advice.” He can invite the leader of a political party or even an individual to form Government,” he said. He agreed the Congress could regain power under another leader.

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 9, 1993