The cup of woes of the Manmohan Singh [Images] Government has been full to the brim with friends and foes alike gunning for it on one issue or another, giving all indications that the three-month session would be more than a stormy affair.

"By March 6, we will discuss, after that we will decide," was the ominous threat of the CPI-M-led Left Front which has warned it would bring the government "to its knees" if it sided with US and against Iran at the IAEA Board meeting scheduled on March 6.

Iran vote: Storm gathering against Congress

Adding fuel to fire, the BJP-led opposition, threatening to rake up many a controversy during the session--defreezing of the Quattrochi bank accounts, alleged indiscretion by Election Commissioner Navin Chawla, former Bihar Governor Buta Singh and the Supreme Court's strictures in Bihar Assembly dissolution case.

An interview by Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar, against the backdrop of the proposed Indo-US nuclear deal, that Washington was moving the 'goalposts' which would affect India's credible nuclear deterrent, has raised a storm.

What ails the India-US N-deal?

Such dark clouds had not gathered around a government to such an extent ahead of the budget session in the recent past. A section of political opinion is, however, dismissing the political heat as mere posturings ahead of Assembly elections in five states including West Bengal and Kerala [Images].

The Iran issue is turning out to be a major headache for the government amid growing impression in ruling circles that the Left and SP were using the foreign policy matter to consolidate their domestic constituencies. This was in view of the fact that the minorities are in a sizeable number in Assam, West Bengal and Kerala.

A meeting of UPA-Left coordination committee on Monday saw the Left virtually issuing a chargesheet against the coalition for its "omission and commission" as the key outside supporters are bitter and feel that their views were not being given due weightage.

Jockeying for the Muslim vote

The refrain of the Left parties is that the government is not paying heed to any of their views on matters of their concern except during passage of controversial measures where the support of the Left was needed.

Besides Iran, the Left is angry with the government on a number of issues including FDI in retail, EPF and airport privatisation which it alleges was nothing less than a scam.

A redeeming feature for the government was that main opposition BJP virtually endorsed India's vote against Iran at the IAEA meeting saying it was not in New Delhi's interest to have another nuclear neighbour in the vicinity.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to make a statement in Parliament on the Iran issue at the earliest and the Left parties have already given notice for a discussion in the matter.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram will be presenting the Union Budget for 2006-7 on Feb 28, a day after the Economic Survey is tabled in Parliament.

Presentation of the Railway Budget by Rail Minister Lalu Prasad is billed for February 24.

President A P J Abdul Kalam will address a joint session of Parliament on the opening day outlining the government's policy and programmes in the coming year.

The BJP-led opposition is raring to take on the government on a number of issues with the survey by a government-appointed panel on Muslims in military turning out to be a hornet's nest for the government.

Muslim census in army: Good or bad?

NDA leaders sought the intervention of the President to stop the religion-based count amid charges that it was a "shameless attempt to woo communal vote".

The opposition is gunning for the scalp of Election Commissioner Navin Chawla after accusing him of having links with Congress and requested Presidential intervention to ensure he quits the post on his own.