West Bengal's opposition Left Front on Thursday described as a "laughable matter" the Trinamool Congress's failed bid to move a no-confidence motion against the government over its policies, including allowing FDI in multi-brand retail.
"She (Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee) went
from door to door seeking support for her no-confidence motion. But actually it is she on whom nobody has confidence," said Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Surjya Kanta Mishra in Kolkata.
"It is laughable that everybody except her knew the motion would not be admitted," added Mishra, a Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo member.
Left Front chairman Biman Bose also questioned the rationale behind the move. "Those who have sense, realised that the move would never succeed. Even parties which support the government from outside don't want the government to collapse," said Bose.
He said the "sensible" (read Left) have submitted a notice for discussions under Rule 184 (entailing voting) in the Lok Sabha against the introduction of foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail as that was the most pragmatic move in the current political situation.
Sudeep Bandopadhyay of the Trinamool sought leave of the Lok Sabha to move the no-confidence motion against the government. Speaker Meira Kumar asked members to stand up if they supported the motion. Other than the 19 Trinamool members, only four Biju Janata Dal (BJD) members stood in support.
Any no-confidence motion needs support of at least 50 members to be admitted and moved in the Lok Sabha.