NO-TRUST: TIME TABLE AGAINST OPP

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan gave the ruling BJP a clear advantage, a day after admitting a no-confidence motion against the Modi government, by allotting it half the time of the 7-hour debate before putting it to vote.

She virtually turned the tables on the Congress and other parties who thought they could take advantage of the time allotted to fully expose the government.

The Opposition knew the noconfidence motion was only a symbolic exercise to expose the government, as and that the BJP and its allies had a comfortable majority that would see them through the motion.

It is, however, now worried that PM Modi will take full advantage of the time given to the BJP to enable him to address the nation in a televised debate, to send out a message before the 2019 elections that he is still unbeatable.

Congress group leader Mallikarjun Kharge had sought a debate over three days, but the party is now debating whom to accommodate besides party president Rahul Gandhi in the paltry 38 minutes allotted to the party, as against three hours and 33 minutes given to the BJP.

Maybe, Kharge and Jyotiraditya Scindia will get some time, if Rahul sticks to his habit of making short speeches.

The AIADMK, which along with BJD is expected to abstain in the voting, got 29 and 15 minutes, respectively. The BJD said it will reveal its strategy on the floor of the House during the debate.

The BJP's ally Shiv Sena has got 14 minutes; Lok Janshakti Party of Ramvilas Paswan and other allies like Shiromani Akali Dal 12 minutes each. BJP President Amit Shah even rang up Shiv Sena chief Thackeray to secure his support in the trial of strength.

In the present House of 535 members, the BJP has 273 members but its strength goes up to 311 after taking into account a dozen allies.

If AIADMK and BJD abstain, the total number of seats involved in voting will be reduced to 478, reducing the new half-way mark to just 244 to win.

TDP's Kesineni Srinivas will be the first speaker at 11 AM on Friday as it was his no-confidence motion that was admitted for discussion, though a Congress leader spoke to TDP chief and Andhra chief minister M Chandrababu Naidu if he will ask his party MP to let Rahul initiate the debate.

In the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting on Thursday morning, the party MPs were asked to focus on the achievements of the government and, at the same time, attack only the Congress and not fritter away the opportunity by attacking other parties.

All parties have issued whip to their respective MPs to be present in the House on Friday, the BJP even citing the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution that empowers it to disqualify anybody not voting for the government.