Cong to move no-trust motion against Badal govt; OPPN GOES ALL OUT TO CORNER RULING COALITION; JAKHAR SAYS SEEKING MAJITHIA’S RESIGNATION NOT ENOUGH, ASKS BJP TO WALK THE TALK CHANDIGARH: Raising its stakes, the opposition Congress in Punjab will move a no-confidence motion against the Parkash Singh Badal government in the Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday. The deftly-planned move has been triggered by the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED’s) summons to cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia in the multi-crore Bhola drug racket. It would be the first no-confidence motion against any government in Punjab in the past decade and a half. The party’s strategy is to corner not just the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) but also embarrass coalition partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after state BJP president Kamal Sharma on Sunday demanded Majithia’s resignation over the ED summons. The move will also put to test the saffron party’s recent activism on the drug issue, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s radio programme Mann Ki Baat. The Congress, which is aiming at driving a bigger wedge between ruling allies, would need the support of all 12 BJP MLAs to pass the motion, if it comes to vote. Addressing mediapersons after the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on Monday, Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab assembly Sunil Jakhar said, “Just seeking the minister’s resignation is not enough. This government has lost the legitimacy to continue in power. That Majithia will resign is a done deal. The bigger question is: will the BJP walk the talk? They can’t say something outside the assembly and defend the government on the issue inside it. They cannot shrug collective responsibility and continue to enjoy the perks of power.” He later met speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal after the meeting and conveyed the decision to him. The application for moving the no-confidence motion, submitted to the assembly secretary, read: “The growing drug abuse in Punjab is threatening the very future of the youth of the state. The council of ministers has not only failed to check the menace of drug trafficking but senior ministers and MLAs of the ruling party are also being investigated for their alleged roles in the drug trade.” >> MORE STORIES, PAGE 3 “Hence, the House has lost its confidence in the present council of ministers headed by Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal,” the application added. CONG ISSUES WHIP TO MLAS Jakhar also issued a whip to Congress MLAs to remain present in the house on Tuesday for the no-confidence motion, which will be moved after the question hour. NUMBERS GAME With 44 MLAs and Independent MLA Rajnish Babbi, the Congress has the requisite strength of one-fifth of the members in the House to move the no-confidence motion. According to sources, Bains brothers Simarjit Singh and Balwinder Singh -- independent MLAs from Ludhiana who have fallen out with the SAD -- too have assured the Congress of their support. However, to topple the government, the Congress would need the support of all 12 BJP MLAs. With 58 MLAs, the SAD is just one short of the majority figure of 59.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 01:16:08 +0000
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