First-timers cross 100 mark

NEW DELHI, Nov 26: The Bharatiya Janata Party's moves to rope in first-time Members of Parliament in the hope of forming a Government conti...

NEW DELHI, Nov 26: The Bharatiya Janata Party’s moves to rope in first-time Members of Parliament in the hope of forming a Government continued today, with those spearheading the move claiming that the number of Lok Sabha members who had signed the memorandum against dissolution of the House had risen to 150.

However, the Congress, which is the BJP’s main target, began damage control measures after learning that nearly 23 party MPs, including some senior MPs, had signed the memorandum. (At least 48 Congress MPs will have to split to avoid expulsion under the Anti-Defection Act).

Sources said that Congress president Sitaram Kesri’s lieutenants Madhavrao Scindia and Tariq Anwar were informally conveying to the MPs that the Congress is likely to stake a claim to form a Government.

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Meanwhile, the BJP has called an emergency meeting of its central office bearers tomorrow at which the political situation will be discussed State-wise. A decision on postponing the party’s presidential polls – thereby retaining L K Advani as BJP president – is also expected.

Interestingly, MPs from the TDP, TMC and the DMK were not present at today’s meeting of first-timers. Very few Congress members were there; reportedly, they were warned by leaders not to associate themselves with the move. Though a campaign leader from the BJP asserts, “They are with us in spirit and will come out in the open at an opportune time.”

Today, the meeting of the young MPs decided to form a Forum of Parliamentarians Opposed to Dissolution of the Lok Sabha. They also appointed eight convenors from each party, namely the Janata Dal, BSP, Samajwadi Janata Party and the Congress, besides the BJP and allies Shiv Sena, Akali Dal and the Haryana Vikas Party. “There are more than 150 MPs supporting this move, and not only those who are first-timers,” said BJP’s Rajiv Pratap Rudy after the meeting. It seems now as if each group of MPs has its own agenda.