With the Opposition wooing smaller parties and even some of the UPA's constituents, it appears the vote would be very close. Till yesterday, UPA was condident of getting 280 MPs in their kitty. But fighting with its back to the wall, UPA govt was on Friday busy rustling up the numbers in a do-or-die trust vote in parliament as allegations of defections, horse-trading and cross-voting in the ruling coalition flew thick and fast.But with a determined opposition - that includes both the Left and the Right - going on the overdrive to woo smaller parties and even some of the UPA's constituents, it looked razor edge walk for the Govt. Both are guilty of malpractices. The frenzied activity to outwit one another, forced them to throw caution to wind. The resultant disrepute to the age-old parliamentary practices and cardinal democratic principles was very unfortunate. When Manmohan Singh,an honest man could indulge in or be a silent spectator unlike Morarji Desai, what can we say to the system. Let there be a cap on such unethical practices in future. Some legislation may be brought to curb them.
There was speculation over possible defections from both sides. While the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed it would get at least four MPs from the Congress, including some from Karnataka, to vote against the government, the Congress also pointed out that there were a few MPs from the BJP and the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ready for cross-voting.
