The Bharatiya Janata Party has decided not to press the Amit Shah and Gujarat issue in Parliament but instead focus on moving an adjournment motion on price rise to put the government in a spot.
The move on price rise would have the support of the Left parties as well as a number of other parties, who would not be inclined to support the BJP on the issue of Amit Shah.
But government sources have ruled out allowing an adjournment motion on the issue saying that a trial of strength was held in the Lok Sabha during the budget session on a cut motion moved by the Opposition, which the government won having garnered 289 votes in a house of 545.
Parliamentary affairs ministers said that the government was agreeable to discuss any issue which the opposition might like to bring in the house but would not agree to an adjournment motion where discussion is followed up by voting.
The problem within the government is that even some key allies like Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee are not fully with the government when it comes to the issue of price rise, as she is basically targeting her key constituency in West Bengal and has cultivated her pro-poor image. Even parties supporting from outside like Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal and Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party are inclined to take on the government over the issue of price rise. The Left parties are fully backing the BJP on the issue.
The assessment in the government is that with the BJP playing to the gallery, it may be difficult for the House to run this week, though efforts are on to talk to the BJP and ensure they agree to a discussion on the issue. The National Democratic Alliance, which met on Monday evening, has decided to press for an adjournment motion that clearly indicates that disruption of the House is on the cards and stormy days ahead, at least in Parliament if not outside as rain clouds have continued to elude Delhi.
Interestingly, the NDA did not discuss the issue of CBI or Amit Shah, as there were parties within the NDA grouping that are not inclined to support the BJP over the Gujarat issue and particularly the issue of Amit Shah. These are parties like the Janata Dal-United, which have to face elections in Bihar later this year and do not want to be seen as championing the cause of Narender Modi and his brand of politics.
Nitish Kumar has already snubbed the Gujarat chief minister in no uncertain terms and would not be averse to doing it again, sources within the JD-U say.
For the moment it suits the Congress to keep the Amit Shah issue on the boil as it breaks Opposition unity as there are no takers within the Left, or the RJD or the Samajwadi Party for lending support to Modi or Shah and the BJP has become isolated on the issue of the Gujarat leader.
