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Keywords: UPA, SP

New Delhi: The Opposition National Democratic Alliance has lashed out at the rift between the UPA Government and its Left Front partners over the Indo-US nuclear deal and demanded that Parliament be convened immediately for a vote of confidence.

“The Manmohan Singh government has lost its majority in the House—it has already lost its moral legitimacy,” said senior BJP leader L K Advani at a press conference in Delhi on Saturday.

Advani called the UPA Government “theatre of the absurd” and alleged that the rift between the Congress and the Left Front was hurting the country. “Differences between two principal partners of UPA Government paralysed, the Government for the past 18 months.”

“I have a never seen a Government like this. Governance has been reduced to theatre of the absurd. For all practical purposes, the Manmohan Singh government has lost majority in Lok Sabha,” he said.

“The moment Left withdraws support, Manmohan Singh should seek vote of confidence. The BJP wants a session of Parliament to be convened immediately.

"The Government has been reduced to a charade. It has lost moral legitimacy—for survival, the Government seems ready to trade off anything."

Advani made it clear that the BJP would re-negotiate the nuclear deal with the US if it comes to power.

The Left parties, whose 61 MPs provide outside support to the Government, wrote a letter to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday asking the government to explain by Monday if it was approaching the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to finalise the agreement on India-specific safeguards.

The Congress has rejected the ultimatum, as it has now the backing of the Samajwadi Party. The SP has 39 members in Lok Sabha and the Government would need its support in the event of a confidence vote.

Advani called the Congress-Samajwadi Party partnership opportunistic and alleged their “credibility lies in shambles".

Advani said it was "surprising" to see "two bitter enemies" becoming allies in a week. When I K Gujral succeeding H D Devegowda as Prime Minister in the 1990s, the head of the Government changed but the council of ministers remained intact.

"In today's case, the Government has opted for a 'leg operation' in its attempts to ensure stability by striking a deal with the SP," he said.

(With inputs from PTI)