Federal Front losing credibility

New Delhi: With the third attempt also failing to get the no-confidence motion taken up for discussion in the Lok Sabha, the credibility of the 'Federal Coalition' floated by Telengana chief minister and TRS leader Chandrashekhara Rao is showing signs of ebbing. And this comes amidst strong accusations that the TRS is playing hide and seek with the BJP in parliament, to the effect that Chandrashekhara Rao is in fact helping the BJP by making a split in the Opposition ranks in the name of a non-BJP, non-Congress coalition.

Most of the Opposition parties support the two separate no-confidence motions filed in the Lok Sabha by TDP and YSR Congress of Andhra Pradesh. But Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has been consistently deferring discussion on them under the pretext of inability to conduct house proceedings due to the din and shouting by members. The boycott and strike in the well of the house is resorted to only by TRS and AIADMK. All the other Opposition parties have returned to their seats paving the way for the no-confidence motion to be considered.

Technically, the Speaker cannot refuse to take up notice for a no-confidence motion if it is supported by 50 or more members, but she pleads inability due to the continuing noise in the house. However, the government has not contacted any partyso far in any effort to bring about a peaceful atmosphere in the house which has been virtually suspended for 12 consecutive days.

When TRS and AIADMK members join those who have returned to the seat and occupy their place, the first business to be taken up will be the no-confidence notice. But the ruling coalition wishes the boycott to continue. The demands raised by the two parties are such as cannot be immediately resolved. TRS demands that the limit of reservation in Telengana should be raised above the 50 per cent ceiling. And the AIADMK is asking for creation of a Cauvery Management Board.

Although TRS leader Chandrashekhara Rao is making some moves to form a non-BJP non-Congress Front, he cannot claim either the charisma or credibility at the national to lead such a campaign. He also has the record of having taken pro-Congress and pro-BJP positions in the past. Curiously enough, it was when TRS was behaving in a manner helpful to the BJP in parliament, that Chandrashekhara Rao flew into Kolkatta and met Mamta Banerjee. Although he said that the topic discussed was a federal coalition, Mamata has not given any assurance. When Rao had mooted this idea, she had called him and offered her support. Therefore, if she has backed down from that, she is apparently not fully convinced of Rao's motives.