Postponement of PM's reply triggers speculation

Government buying time to pacify Trinamool Congress: Sushma Swaraj With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday postponing his reply in the Lok Sabha to the debate on the motion of thanks for the President's address to the joint session of Parliament, there is speculation that the UPA government is on a shaky ground vis-à-vis its allies, particularly the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The BJP seized the opportunity to accuse the government of running away from Parliament to hide its inability to muster a simple majority. Voting on the motion of thanks has assumed importance as several parties have moved amendments objecting to the mention of the controversial National Counterterrorism Centre (NCTC) in the President's address. The Opposition is hoping to secure the support of the TMC, which has been in the forefront of the opposition from the States. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said the government postponed the Prime Minister's reply, which is now scheduled for Monday, to buy time to pacify the TMC. “There is no doubt that the government does not have a majority in the House.” An agitated Parliamentary Affairs Minister Paswan Kumar Bansal took exception to her statement and argued that the reply was deferred for logistical reasons and it had nothing to do with numbers game. Bansal confident Mr. Bansal expressed confidence that the motion will be passed without amendments. Indications are that he has sought the support of the Samajwadi Party.