The Congress party on Thursday distributed a list of party leaders in Lok Sabha who either favour or oppose divestment of the cash-rich oil companies Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.
The Congress, which is demanding a discussion under Rule 184 of Parliament, forced the adjournment of Lok Sabha on Thursday on this issue. The Congress list showed the Bharatiya Janata Party as the only party favouring divestment of the two oil companies, while a majority of the National Democratic Alliance allies and the coalition government's supporters opposed the sell-off.
The list which sums up the strength of the parties opposed to the sell-off to be 304 in a House of 545 has, however, marked 18 parties, including six independents and a single vacancy into a 'not yet decided' category.
The list includes the names of Samata party president George Fernandes, Telugu Desam Party leader K Yerrannaidu, Shiv Sena leader Chadrakant Khaire, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Bannerjee, Janata Dal (United) leader Ramjivan Singh, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Murasoli Maran and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Vaiko.
The parties that are enlisted in the 'not yet decided' category include the Bahajun Samaj Party, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the National Conference among others.
"Those who are opposed to the divestment of the HPCL and the BPCL command a majority," chief Congress spokesman S Jaipal Reddy said.
The Congress had raised the issue in the House despite the fact that the discussion on the issue was slated for May 8. The haste for immediate discussion on the issue stems from the opposition's apprehensions that the government had almost finalised the sell-off and may not wait for the discussion on the issue to be over. "We have definite information that the process of divestment of BPCL and HPCL has reached a fairly advanced stage and we do not want this to bypass the Lok Sabha," Reddy said. "The Government of India is adopting a clandestine approach and we are clearly opposed to this reckless divestment."
Significantly, the Congress along with almost all the opposition parties including the Left Front, Samajwadi party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal are insisting the government should discuss the issue under Rule 184 that ends in voting. The government, which is aware of the discontent of its allies on the issue, is keen that the issue is discussed under Rule 193 so that it can save its allies from taking a stand that may go on record.
