NEW DELHI: A crucial test awaits the one-year-old Narasimha Rao government when it faces the first no confidence motion tabled against it by the opposition in Parliament.

Despite a mega scam and a host of political problems the government however appeared to be brimming with optimism on the eve of the debate primarily because of the current differences in the opposition ranks over the Ayodhya issue.

The major opposition parties which have pressed for the motion  have crucial issues to present to the government including the3500 Crore securities scam spiraling prices the lingering Bofors scandal and what they call political inaction in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir

The Bharatiya Janata Pany which will initiate the debate and the National Front and Left Front have issued whips to ensure full attendance of their MPs during the debate. The ruling party has strictly advised its MPs not to leave the Capital until the motions voted upon.

With the Ayodhya issue heating up and furthers widening the chasm between the BJP and the National Front-Left Front combine the government is hoping to cash in on the prevailing disunity in the opposition ranks in order to face its biggest test in the Lok Sabha.

The developments in Ayodhya derailed the special debate on the securities scam in the Lok Sabh recently when the former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar drew the Lok Sabha attention to news that construction of the temple had begun in Ayodhya.

But the scam was not the only casualty. So disturbed were the NF-LF members about the temple Construction that even the politically explosive report in the “India Express” identifying Ottavio Quattro chi the Italian friend of the Gandhi’s to the Bofors pay of its failed to release the tension.

Cracks in the opposition are not just confined to the BJP-NF-LF divide alone. There have been other signs of dissonance especially in the run-up to the presidential poll and these include the differences between the National Front and the Left Front over support to  G.Swell and the split in the National Front itself on this question with the Congress (S) and AGP —_ supporting DrS.D.Sharma All this was of course preceded by the National Front Chairman N.TRama Rao himself sowing the seeds of confusion by first showering praise on Dr.Sharma and then backing G.G.Swell for the presidency. In the bargain though he heads the Front NTR has conveyed the impression that he is a prisoner of the Front. This coupled with the rigid attitude of V.H.Singh on a majority of issues seems to have contributed to the low morale among MPs belonging to the Front and substantially blunted the opposition campaign against the government But despite these setbacks opposition leaders were confident of putting up a united face when the no-confidence motion is taken up for discussion. Their intention is not bank too much on the differences between the BJP and the NF-LF because all parties are determined to tains their guns on the government

The Congress however is sparing no effort to ensure that it gets the support of splinter groups and independents in the House when the motion is put voice because on paper it looks like a close fight.

Article extracted from this publication >> July 24, 1992