NEW DELHI, April 23 � Opposition�s plan to bring a cut-motion on the issue of price rise in the Budget session of the Parliament has landed Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) in a tight spot.
While the regional party has only one MP in the Lok Sabha, in Rajya Sabha it has two and they have no instruction from AGP leadership.
Lok Sabha MP Joseph Toppo told newsmen that he is in a dilemma because AGP cannot be seen directly aligning with the NDA-sponsored move because of sharp deterioration in relationship with BJP. �I am going to talk to AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary for instruction ahead of April 27, when the UPA government proposes to guillotine the Finance Bill,� he said.
However, leader of AGP Parliamentary Party Biren Baishya when asked said that the AGP would support the cut-motion and oppose the Congress Party.
As the voting is expected to be a tight affair, pressure is likely to mount on the AGP Lok Sabha MP in days to come. AGP has so far not joined the 13-party non-NDA, non-UPA alliance, which is moving the cut-motion to corner the government.
The NDA is issuing a three-line whip to its MPs to get the cut-motion passed in the Lok Sabha. All cut motions are going to be related to price rise. BJP has 116 members, and its allies in NDA, including JD(U) has 20 MPs, while other allies Shiv Sena and Akali Dal have 11 and four members, respectively.
The 13-party grouping, which have 87 MPs, also plans to bring in separate cut motions and if they vote tacitly with NDA, it might spell trouble for the ruling alliance. BJP has given enough hints that it is willing to do business with the 13-party grouping on the cut-motion issue.
The Congress-led UPA has strength of around 265 members in the 543-member House, including some independents. The 21-member BSP is not joining the Opposition rank and is expected to abstain, to the relief of the Congress Party.
