New Delhi, November 28
An end to the impasse in Parliament over FDI in retail appeared in sight with the government today giving indications that it was ready for a vote on the issue.

A day after its key ally, the DMK, gave assurance that it won’t go against the decision of the government on the issue, parliamentary managers of the United Progressive Alliance on Thursday met BJP leaders to make a final attempt to persuade the Opposition to drop its demand for a debate entailing a vote. The government, however, left the final decision to presiding officers. “Presiding officers can take any decision they want in the interest of running Parliament,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath told the media after he met BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley.

Flanked by his MoS for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla, Kamal Nath reiterated that numbers were "not a worry" for the government. The MPs are responsible enough to decide (in favour of the issue), he said.

The minister dismissed suggestions that the government has wasted four days of the winter session to decide on the issue as it did not have the numbers. "From day one, I have said we have the numbers," he said. During the meeting, BJP leaders kept insisting on a discussion under a rule that entails voting and charged the government with gross neglect of Parliament and not adhering to its commitment of consulting all stakeholders before taking a decision on the FDI.

In such a situation, the only way the sense of the House could be gauged was through voting, Swaraj told reporters after the meeting.

Her contention was that even if such vote went against, it would not lead to the fall of the government but would only show the view of Parliament on the FDI issue.

"The government will not fall. Only the FDI (decision) will have to go. If a majority of members are against the decision then the government should abide by it," Swaraj said.

As against this, Nath argued that the all-party meeting held on Monday showed that larger numbers favoured a discussion without voting.

Nath said the government "cannot accept (discussion under Rule) 184. We have left it to the presiding officers to decide. Let them take any decision they want in the interest of running the House". Asked if the government was ready for voting on FDI as the Opposition is firm on its stand, Nath said, "We are not averse to it." As for the numbers, in the 545-strong Lok Sabha, the government needs at least 273 MPs for a majority but the mark would come down to 251 in case the SP (22 MPs) and the BSP (21 MPs) do not vote.

At the last count, UPA has 261 MPs. However in the 244-strong Rajya Sabha, the government requires greater support from the BSP (15 MPs) and the SP (9 MPs) since the UPA support adds to 95 MPs as against the majority mark of 123.