New Delhi:
On a day when two senior partners in his coalition snubbed the government, the Prime Minister hosted a dinner for all his allies. The meet-and-greet was held at his residence, 7 Race Course Road. The National Conference's Farooq Abdullah was present, as was TR Baalu representing the DMK.
Sharad Pawar, who heads the Nationalist Congress Party or NCP fainted in the Lok Sabha today and was discharged from hospital this evening; his deputy and union minister Praful Patel was at the dinner instead.
(Read: Pawar faints in Lok Sabha, discharged from hospital)Mamata Banerjee's RSVP is causing much political angst - she had deputed her MP Ratna De Nag to attend the meet. Home Minister P Chidambaram explained that most of Trinamool's senior leaders were "busy with the session beginning in Bengal in the next couple of days."
Describing the dinner meet as "very cordial", Mr Chidambaram said that the allies had shared their concerns and it has been agreed that the Parliamentary Affairs Minister will be calling all parties daily for better floor coordination in the house. "The finance minister impressed upon the leaders, that their members should be present in the house and vote with the Government on critical issues," he said, adding, "the smaller parties desired that they should get more time to speak in Parliament, which was appreciated by the Prime Minister and Mrs Sonia Gandhi."
The Congress has been criticised lately by its allies for poor coordination and for failing to consult them. Tonight's dinner was being seen as a chance to rebuild bridges amid reports that the coalition is on shaky ground. Ms Banerjee has denied interest in exiting the government or in exploring political options, but her actions have suggested otherwise. Talk of a Third Front with the Samajwadi Party, the Left and Chandrababu Naidu's TDP continues to do the rounds.
Earlier today, Ms Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and the DMK made public moves that undermine the government.
The President's address to Parliament inaugurates the first session of the new year and explains the government's agenda. Yesterday, President Pratibha Patil delivered her speech, launching the budget session, Today, the DMK and Mamata Banerjee registered their protests by asking for amendments to that speech.
Ms Banerjee had asked her MPs to move an amendment that asks for the reference to the new National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) deleted. Sources have told NDTV that the government has sent a message to Ms Mamata Banerjee explaining how the Trinamool amendment could destabilise the government.
The Chief Minister of West Bengal has been the Group Captain for ten chief ministers who have objected to the NCTC on the grounds that its powers encroach upon those of state governments. The Centre has delayed the commissioning of the NCTC till an extensive dialogue is completed with states.
President Patil had said in para 91 of her speech, "The National Intelligence Grid and the National Counter Terrorism Centre aim to improve India's capability to counter internal security threats." Because state governments have not lifted their objections to the NCTC, Ms Banerjee's party wants its mention to be removed. In the Lok Sabha today, Home Minister P Chidambaram said, "I believe NCTC is an absolute necessity; I do not believe it violates the federal structure."
The DMK's amendments want the President's address to reflect India's stand on alleged war crimes by the Sri Lankan government. A resolution backed by the US against reported atrocities will come up within the next few days at the United Nations Human Rights Council at Geneva. The DMK has said India must vote against Sri Lanka. The party also wants the President's address to refer to the repeated arrests by Sri Lanka of fishermen from Tamil Nadu.
Ms Banerjee late last year forced the government to suspend its reforms in retail just days after they were announced. With her 19 MPs, she is an indispensable partner in the UPA. She also accused the Centre of violating the principles of federalism late last year, when the Centre introduced the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill in the Lok Sabha. Though the bill was passed there, it has yet to be cleared by the Rajya Sabha. She also accused the Centre of violating the principles of federalism late last year, when the Centre introduced the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill in the Lok Sabha. Though the bill was passed there, it has yet to be cleared by the Rajya Sabha.
Though Ms Banerjee has said that she remains committed to the UPA, her recent gestures suggest she is not closed to exploring other options. She accepted invites to the swearing-in ceremonies for Akhilesh Yadav in UP and the Akali-BJP government in Punjab; the Congress took offense. Later, she said she would send representatives instead.