Left junks no-trust motion but Opposition in talks to close ranks on voting rule

The lull of the festive season gave way to hectic political activity on Monday as the Opposition started closing its ranks ahead of the Winter Session, to try defeat the government in a floor-test over the FDI issue in Parliament. According to sources, shedding ideological constraints, Left leaders on Monday reached out to the BJP.

While the session is beginning on November 22, sources said the two Houses may adjourn on the first day as a mark of respect for Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray, who passed away on Saturday.

Non-Congress parties are pushing two different modes for seeking a head count. The NDA and Left parties favour a discussion on a motion under Rule 184 in the Lok Sabha and under Rule 167 in the Rajya Sabha — which mandate voting. The BJP as well as Left parties had given notice under these rules.

The Trinamool Congress, which broke away from the UPA some time back, is insistent on moving a motion of no-confidence in the Lok Sabha. However, the Lok Sabha Secretariat disclosed that it had not received any notice regarding this so far.

In a bid to get together the maximum parties, CPM general secretary Prakash Karat, sources said, had given the green signal to party floor leaders in the Lok Sabha (Basudeb Acharia) and Rajya Sabha (Sitaram Yechury) to reach out across the spectrum, including the BJP. Sources said they had both contacted the BJP's Leaders of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj (Lok Sabha) and Arun Jaitley (Rajya Sabha).

Karat himself met NDA convenor and JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav on Sunday, while the latter held talks with Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav. Though the SP supports the UPA government from the outside, it has declared itself opposed to the government's FDI measures.

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