UPA to seek Trust Vote, Left loses Face

--By Sagar Satapathy, Editor-in-Chief

The Congress-led UPA received unprecedented support from all quarters after the Left pulled out of the government on Tuesday. The Samajwadi Party, RLD, JD(S) and many other small parties came out in open to vote for the Indo-US nuclear deal. They also assured the government of all support if it seeks a trust vote in the Parliament.

PM Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and other Congress leaders thundered that they would seek the trust vote first before signing the nuclear deal. The UPA allies also rallied behind the government. According to sources, some other parties such as the TMC, NC and others may support the UPA government to pass the acid test in the Parliament.

The entire episode brought huge embarrassment to the Left parties. They lost face and are at pain to explain why they continued to support the government for four years, if they did not like its policies. If there is any anti-incumbency factor against the UPA, the Left will equally share the blame. Also their timing of withdrawal of support when the PM is abroad, drew flak from all.

The BJP, which expected to gain some advantage from Left's pullout, may end up with no significant gains, but it can still target both UPA and Left over the stability issue. The Congress is yet again falling on the smaller parties that are known for switching sides. The "uncomfortable" alliance with these parties, won't prove beneficial for the Congress in future elections. The political instability will cost common people dearer. They will have to pay a hefty price for all these drama.