Skating on thin ice, the government is readying itself to face a possible trial of strength in the Lok Sabha this week with the united opposition planning to corner it on the issue of price rise.
Already the government is under pressure on the IPL controversy amid demands for a JPC probe and the alleged telephone tapping scandal is bound to rock the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
The BJP-led NDA and the 13-party grouping brought together by the Left parties have separately announced plans to bring cut motions to force government roll back hike in the prices of petroleum products and fertilisers.
Congress has issued a three-line whip to its members asking them to be present in the House and vote in favour of the demands as also the Finance Bill, whose passage marks the completion of the budgetary exercise. It has also asked its allies in the UPA to follow suit.
A cut motion could test the strength of the government in the House that could be a close affair. If a cut motion is adopted the government of the day will have to resign because it is defeated on a money matter.
The 13-parties grouping, which accounts for 87 MPs in a House of 543, also decided to organise a nationwide strike on April 27 to press their demand. Besides the four Left parties, the grouping consists of AIADMK, BJD, SP, RJD, TDP, RLD, LJP, JD-S and INLD.
However, BSP, which has 21 MPs, could raise the comfort level of the Congress-led UPA coalition, whose support is estimated to be around 265.
The party may abstain from voting on the motion and observers see significance in the CBI telling the Supreme Court that it consider Mayawati's plea for closure of a disproportionate case against her.
BJP has 116 members in the House while its allies in the NDA have 35 members. JD(U) has 20, Shiv Sena 11 and Akali Dal four members.
"We will make all efforts from our side on the issue of cut motion and will do everything it takes for floor coordination," BJP leaders have declared.
Incidentally, the 13-party grouping have organised a countrywide hartal (strike) on Tuesday on the issue of price rise, when the cut motions are expected to come for vote.
The Left parties are claiming that the "anxiety" within the government was growing due to the rising support for the proposed cut motion.
"Our intention is not to topple the government but what can we do if it falls in the process," is the refrain of the Left leaders.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, who are with the Left parties on the move, are singing the same tune despite being outside supporters of the Congress-led coalition. Another such party is H D Deve Gowda's JD-S.
Left leaders said the cut motion will be moved when the guillotine is applied on the Demands for Grants of the Finance Ministry on April 27.
An amendment to the Finance Bill is also being moved. It was aimed at getting annulled the notification issued by the government hiking customs and excise duties on petrol, diesel and fertiliser.
Government is putting up a brave front in the wake of the opposition plans. "There will be no problem to the government," Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal said.
