PM to host dinner for UPA leaders on Friday

New Delhi: Bracing up for an opposition onslaught in Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will host dinner for United Progressive Alliance (UPA) leaders on Friday to firm up a joint strategy on various issues like foreign direct investment (FDI) that are expected to come up during the session beginning next week.

The Prime Minister's dinner with UPA leaders comes close on the heels of his similar interactions with leaders of crucial outside supporters, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). He hosted dinner for Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh last week and followed it with lunch for BSP chief Mayawati on Sunday.

The Prime Minister is reaching out to allies and outside supporters as the government faces the prospect of a motion entailing voting on FDI and even a possible threat of No-Confidence Motion.

The Left parties have tabled a motion that will seek a vote on FDI. The main Opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its ally JD(U) as also the Trinamool Congress, which parted ways with the UPA few months back on the issue, have also given notices. Those from the opposition who have given notices include Shatabdi Roy (TMC), Ramesh Bais, A T Nana Patil, Hansraj Ahir (all BJP) and Rajiv Ranjan Singh (JD-U).

To add to government's discomfiture, sulking ally the DMK on Wednesday declined to disclose its stand on how it would vote either on such motions or the No-Confidence Motion, likely to be moved by the Trinamool Congress.

DMK chief M Karunanidhi said in Chennai yesterday that his party's stand on the FDI issue is "suspense". Asked whether the DMK would support Left and some other parties' proposed resolution with provision for voting in Parliament on FDI, Karunanidhi said the party's views would be made known after consultations with Parliamentary Party members. The support of the DMK, the second largest group in the UPA with its 18 MPs in Lok Sabha, is crucial for the government in case of a voting on a motion.

At present, the government enjoys the support of about 265 MPs, including DMK, in a house of 545. With the support of Samajwadi Party (22) and BSP (21), the backing for the ruling coalition goes a little over 300, which is comfortable over the required 273 majority mark in Lok Sabha. The BSP and the SP together or individually have not shown signs of withdrawing support so far.

Mayawati, who has hinted at the possibility of early polls, remained vague on her party's stand on FDI issue after her lunch with the Prime Minister on Sunday. "Whenever such a situation crops up, ask us this question (then). Why do you want our response in advance," she said. She noted that her party members have authorised her to take a final decision on support to the UPA but she has not taken a call on the issue so far.