New Delhi, Oct 2 (PTI): NDA ally JD-U today said it could support a no-confidence motion against government brought by other parties, a significant departure from its earlier stand that it was not interested in ousting the UPA.
"We are not focussed on ousting the government but if it is falling anyway, we will definitely give it a push," party chief Sharad Yadav told reporters. His statement came a day after Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said that her party planned to bring a no-confidence motion against the UPA government in the next session of Parliament and sought support of other political parties in this regard.
Yadav, who had, hailed Banerjee as a "tigress" while supporting her agitation from the dais at Jantar Mantar, was however, dismissive of the formation of a federal front which Banerjee appeared keen on.
"NDA will not bring a no-confidence motion but if anybody else X Y Z brings it, we will weigh the option and decide. After all the biggest blow can come only from NDA side. We are not focussed on ousting the government but if it is falling anyway, we will definitely give it a push," Yadav, who is NDA convenor, said.
He was responding to question on how stable the UPA is in his opinion with TMC having walked out of the alliance and DMK striking a discordant note on economic reform measures.
To a specific question about his opinion on the possible emergence of a new front in the national politics, the JD(U) chief said it does not look possible "in absence of an axis". "My personal assessment is that there can be no such alliance now. Third Front or Fourth Front were possible when Janata Dal was a national party having presence in Bihar, UP, Orissa, Karnataka and some other states. The wheel moves only, when there is an axis. That axis is not there for the formation of a new front.
"There are three alliances right now --- UPA, NDA and Left. While Congress is the axis of UPA, BJP is the axis of NDA. In the Left Front, CPI-M is the axis. That's it," Yadav said.
Yadav said that he joined Mamata's agitation as the Trinamool Chief was keen that he goes there. "I respect her a lot. I felt happy going there."
To a question on whether Trinamool Congress can be part of extended NDA in future, the JD-U chief said that he had not gone to attend Banerjee's agitation with any such motive.
"Making assessments like NDA is expanding or contracting due to this will damage the united protest against FDI in multi-brand retail," he said. Yadav at the same time cryptically added "you wait. Whatever will happen will happen at the right time".
After the conclusion of the protest rally, Trinamool Congress leaders had also arrived at Yadav's residence in the evening to chalk out future strategy, sources said.
They said that Banerjee was keen to address similar rallies in other states as well and Yadav can join her in similar agitations in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh and Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh in futrue.
Attacking the government on the coal block allocation, Yadav said the argument that the policy matter rests with the government does mean that anybody has got "license to loot".
He also slammed the ministers of the central government and Congress leaders for "attacking the CAG" after the SC's recent observations.
"There should not be attacks on the CAG. Whatever the CAG has said, Parliament can look into it. CAG has given report to Parliament. Government has a right to decide policy matters does not mean that the country will be allowed to be looted.
"It is well within the CAG's right to point out if the nation's assets are being looted. A minister said that the the CAG's accounting was wrong. The CAG responded by saying that Parliament can look into it. What can be more transparent than this? Let there be a debate on the CAG findings," Yadav said.
He said that had the country's minerals been disposed of properly, there would not have been such a hue and cry on fuel prices.