PM meets Cong leaders as SP, RJD withdraw support to govt

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday held consultations with senior Congress leaders including Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) decided to withdraw support to his government over the Women's Reservation Bill.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday held consultations with senior Congress leaders including Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) decided to withdraw support to his government over the Women's Reservation Bill.

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Besides Mukherjee, who is the leader of the Lok Sabha, those present at the high-level meeting included Ahmad Patel, political secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

Later, Mukherjee held a separate meeting with other leaders including Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal, and Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prithviraj Chavan and V Narayansamy. Patel was also present during the meeting.

SP and RJD, who together have 25 members in the Lok Sabha, announced withdrawal of support after government made clear its intention to go ahead with the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament.

Both Houses of Parliament witnessed noisy scenes and adjournments over the issue.