Government is expected to have a smooth sailing in Lok Sabha in the trial of strength on cut motion with the 21-member Bahujan Samaj Party throwing its weight behind it.
"We will support the Central government on the issue of cut motion," BSP supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said at a press conference in Lucknow.
Her statement, coupled with signals from 21-member SP that they were against destabilising the Congress-led coalition, was welcome news to the UPA ahead of the cut motion on the demands for grants.
RJD leader Lalu Prasad, who was part of the opposition MPs protesting against price rise, was ambiguous on his party's strategy on the cut motion.
Asked whether his party has given whip to its members to vote against the government, he shot back, "Whip is issued on whom there is no faith on. How can we distrust our MPs. Now, we are standing on the battlefield. It is to be seen what we do or not do."
The guillotine will be applied to the debate on demands for grants at 1800 hrs today.
Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari said, "We are absolutely confident that all cut motions will be decisively defeated."
