Rather than cut a sorry figure, Sena drops cut motion

MUMBAI, APRIL 5: Gudipadwa, the Maharashtrian New Year day, passed without bringing good news for Sena chief Bal Thackeray who had set a d...

MUMBAI, APRIL 5: Gudipadwa, the Maharashtrian New Year day, passed without bringing good news for Sena chief Bal Thackeray who had set a deadline to his partymen to topple the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party government.

This bacame clear on Tuesday when his partyman and leader of Oppositio in the Assembly Narayan Rane, unexpectedly withdrew his cut motion.

Last week, at a high-level meeting of Sena-BJP legislators, Thackeray had asked Rane and BJP leader Gopinath Munde to chalkout an action plan to topple the Vilasrao Deshmukh government by April 5. This was followed by a closed-door meeting between Thackeray and Pramod Mahajan to discuss the toppling strategy.

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Accordingly, it was decided that instead of moving a no-confidence motion or seeking support from either the Congress or the Nationalist Congress Party legislators, a cut motion should be moved.

“As per convention, if a cut motion on the budgetary demand of any department, is passed, then it is considered as a defeat of the government leading to its resignation,” a senior BJP leader said.

That’s why Rane had given a notice for a cut motion on the budgetary demands of the Food and Civil Supplies department. In fact, at the joint meeting of the Sena-BJP legislators, the prospects of the cut motion were discussed at length. Subsequently, the proposal was also discussed with Union Minister for Heavy Industry Manohar Joshi, who made his presence felt at the council hall.

When it became clear that it would be difficult to get the cut motion passed, Rane informed speaker Arun Gujarathi that he would not press the motion. “Since I felt that it was not a appropriate time, I decided to withdraw the cut motion. There is no need to assign any reasons for the withdrawal,” Rane said.

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However, a senior BJP leader said since a large number of BJP legislators were absent today, it was decided to drop the motion. “We have still five days in hand to move cut motions. Once we are sure of our strength, we will move the cut motion and ensure that it is not defeated,” the BJP leader said.

This is the fourth aboted attempt by the Sena-BJP to topple the government. They first forced an election for the post of Speaker and deputy Speaker with the hope of defeating the official nomnee. Later they moved a no-trust motion. All three moves fell flat on their face and only showed up the Sena-BJP’s lack of numbers even more each successive time.