A day after National Conference ditched the ruling NDA on the anti-terrorism Bill in the Rajya Sabha, the government has swung into action to keep the remaining flock together to ensure smooth sailing of the legislation in the joint sitting of Parliament on March 26.
Upset over the meeting of some allies on Friday afternoon following Thursday's clash in Lok Sabha between BJP and some NDA partners on the Hindutva issue, Defence Minister George Fernandes and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan called up TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu on Friday and asked him about his party's stand, particularly on Poto, government sources said.
Mahajan is understood to have asked Naidu to make his party's position clear, particularly in view of the meeting which was reportedly being held in the chamber of the TDP.
However, Naidu clarified that the meeting was not being held under his directions and that his party's stand as regards Poto remained unchanged.
The TDP has 28 members in the Lok Sabha and 13 in the Rajya Sabha.
Mahajan also unsuccessfully tried to get in touch with National Conference leader and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Friday morning following three members of his party remaining away from Rajya Sabha on Thursday during the crucial voting on Prevention of Terrorism Bill, sources said. Bureau Report