Retail FDI vote: Govt confident of numbers in RS, SP not to back UPA

Buoyed by its win in Lok Sabha on FDI issue, the government today said it is confident of a victory in Rajya Sabha as well though the numbers are close even as SP made it clear it will not support UPA during voting on the issue in the Upper House.

"I am fully confident that BJP's politics will be defeated.

Congress won in Lok Sabha and we will win in Rajya Sabha as well.

Numbers are close but clear," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath told reporters outside Parliament House.

Asked how the government will manage the numbers in the Upper House with the Opposition having a majority, he said, "Let me handle it."

Kamal Nath's views were echoed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram.

"The debate will happen and the government will win the vote," he said.

Samajwadi Party, which had spoken against FDI in retail decision during the debate in Lok Sabha but staged a walkout before the vote, said its Rajya Sabha members will take a call on the issue when it is put to vote tomorrow in the Upper House.

"We will definitely not vote with the government, that much we can say," SP Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Agrawal said.

NCP leader and party MP D P Tripathi said, "NCP is very sure that FDI in retail should be implemented. Our party is very clear on this issue. It is not divided and has no reservations as far as FDI is concerned. It is a Fair Direct Investment."

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