Allies unlikely to pull plug, govt hopes to ride out reforms storm SP, BSP, Mamata May Continue With Support

Kolkata/Lucknow/New Delhi: If allowing FDI in multi-brand retail in defiance of the wishes of its allies and resistance from opponents carried a political risk, then the UPA government might have pulled it off. 
    On Saturday, neither the Samajwadi Party nor the BSP—two of the key props of the UPA regime—seemed to be in a hurry to withdraw their support to the UPA government over its decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail even as doubts persisted over West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee taking her pique to the extent of asking her 19 MPs to pull 
the rug from under PM Manmohan Singh's feet. 
    A confident Congress shrugged off destabilization fears, with its spokesperson P C Chacko claiming that there was "no crisis". He emphasized that the decisions had the full support of party chief Sonia Gandhi—an assertion seen as signalling confidence in the party about riding out the political uproar. 
    In what can be a potential lifeline for the UPA, the SP and the BSP indicated they were in no mood to pull the trigger despite their anger over the reforms decisions. Talking to reporters, UP CM Akhilesh Yadav said he would not let big foreign retailers set up shop in his state even as his party joined the plan by non-Congress outfits to organize a countrywide shutdown against FDI in retail. 
Premium fuel prices up 
Oil companies have raised premium or 
branded petrol and diesel rates by Rs 6.36 
and Rs 19.55 per litre respectively. Cong should not cross Lakshman rekha: Didi 
New Delhi: The Samajwadi Party is unlikely to pull the trigger on the UPA government despite its unhappiness over the reforms decisions taken over the past two days. UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav deflected a question on whether the SP would continue its support to the UPA, saying the decision would be taken by Mulayam SinghYadav. 
    Significantly, Akhilesh reiterated the SP's objective to keep communal forces at bay — the political alibi that the SP has used to repeatedly bail the UPA government out of tricky situations despite their contradictions. 
    BSP leader Mayawati also referred to the "secular" logic as she came up with a staggered deadline when reporters asked if she planned to review her support to the UPA government. "We have extended issue-based support to the UPA to stop communal forces from coming to power. But we do not favour anti-people decisions like the hike in the prices of diesel and LPG and FDI in retail. We demand the revocation of these decisions. If the UPA fails to do it, we will take a call on extending support after our rally on October 9."
    The seemingly open-ended response notwithstanding, observers felt that the long window given by Mayawati will work to the advantage of the UPA's crisis managers, who have time and again proven their ability to bring thetwoUP parties aroundjust after they appear tohavedrifted away. 
    With a combinedtally of43 seats, the two UP players can be an effective buffer against any drastic action by Banerjee. However, there were indications that the Trianmool was still to take a final decision on withdrawing its support to the government. The West Bengal CM stayed away from the IIT-Kharagpur's convocation and took to streets at theheadof a huge procession, which again pointedtoher undiminished crowd-pulling ability. "We don't want to topple the government. At the same time, there is a ground rule in coalition politics and one should not cross the Lakshman rekha,"shesaid. 
    TMC sources said Banerjeewasstillundecidedon ending her support to the UPA, and may not gobeyond pulling out her ministers from the government in case she feels that her political inaction over the reforms measures couldworktothe advantageof the CPM. Her need for a financial package for West Bengal is another reason why she might like to calibrate her response to the provocations from theCentre. 
    With the Congress on the cusp of a political breakthrough, its spokesperson Chacko said the resistance from allies posed no crisis to the government. Ruling out a rollback of the reforms measures, he said Sonia Gandhi had expressed full support to the government's decision on FDIin multi-brand retail.

WHO STANDS WHERE

SP | Is opposed to FDI in retail, but its opposition likely to be limited to UP. Mulayam can gain by supporting UPA as he can get help for projects in UP. Also, SP talking of need to 'keep communal forces at bay', which means no truck with BJP

TMC | Mamata too may not pull the trigger. She won't allow foreign retail in West Bengal, and may go as far as pulling out her ministers from Centre. But won't pull the plug as Centre is working on a package to placate her

BSP | Mayawati says will decide on support to the Centre on Oct 9. Obviously she isn't in a hurry. With 21 MPs, she will keep Congress card open to keep SP guessing

BJP | Opposed to FDI in retail given its trader constituency. But has to offset that with middle class appeal for more FDI. May try and bring no-trust motion in winter session if the issue is still alive

LEFT, REGIONAL PARTIES | Organizing a nationwide bandh next week. But don't have numerical strength to upset the UPA applecart nor the numbers to challenge the govt in Parliament