Oppn cut motions main worry for govt in Budget session

The Shashi Tharoor issue and the emerging differences in the Congress over Maoist violence have charged up the political scene ahead of the second phase of the Budget session of Parliament beginning Thursday....

The Shashi Tharoor issue and the emerging differences in the Congress over Maoist violence have charged up the political scene ahead of the second phase of the Budget session of Parliament beginning Thursday,but it is the Opposition move for cut motions which would keep ruling alliance managers on their toes.

The NDA and the 13-party combine may have separately planned cut motions,but they are all expected to close their ranks once the voting gets underway. On the face of it,the admission of a cut motion seems routine. However,the procedure set for the purpose leaves the scope wide open. Rule No. 211 of the Lok Sabha Rules of Procedure vests the Speaker with the power to decide whether a cut motion is admissible in the light of a plethora of pre-requisites (13,to be precise). She may disallow any cut motion when in her opinion it is an abuse of the right of moving cut motions or is calculated to obstruct or prejudicially affect the procedure of the House.

Sensing all possibilities of interpretation of this rule,CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta has met Speaker Meira Kumar with a request that he be allowed to move a cut motion over the hike in prices of petroleum products.

Dasgupta has approached the Speaker ahead of a formal notice on this count,which he is required to give one day in advance of the voting. Dasgupta told The Indian Express on Wednesday: I have told the Speaker that there is a move for a guillotine of demands for grants. But,Article 113 of the Constitution gives me the power to move a cut motion. When asked about the Speakers response,Dasgupta said she did not respond immediately. The matter is under her consideration, he added.

The real challenge for the entire Opposition would be to cope with a guillotine (clubbing together) of demands for different ministries. Since the Opposition has planned moving cut motions on the demands for grants of the Petroleum Ministry,the big question would be whether these would be put to vote separately or lumped with other ministries.

According to Rule 210,a cut motion shall relate to one demand only and shall be confined to one specific matter which shall be stated in precise terms. A way out is possible by taking up several ministries together and then splitting the voting on each ministry.

As far as the numbers are concerned,the government has a clear majority though it would be under pressure to ensure the presence of every MP backing the UPA on crucial occasions. The Lok Sabha is currently in full strength 544 plus the Speaker. This makes it mandatory for the government to have the support of at least 273 members.

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The Congresss problems stem from a realignment of parties which were earlier backing the UPA from outside. The Samajwadi Party,RJD and JD(S) have walked in to the new combine cobbled together by Left parties. The JMM is now aligned with the BJP. The Bahujan Samaj Party is not with the government any more though it is not attached with the Opposition either.

The Congress with 206 members is supported by Trinamool Congress (19),the DMK (18),the NCP (9),National Conference (3) and Muslim League (2). Besides,there are 13 parties with one member each along with nine Independents. The bulk of them back the government. Then there are parties like the BSP and TRS,which can swing either way or even abstain when the time for voting comes.

The NDA has 151 people and the 13-party combine has a strength of 87 MPs. The two opposition formations are way behind the ruling coalition,but ruling alliance managers would be constantly under pressure to keep their flock intact and be present when needed.