New Delhi, Nov.18 (ANI): Janata Dal (United) party chief Sharad Yadav met Communist Party of India-(Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat here on on Sunday to discuss the opposition's strategy in the upcoming winter session of parliament.
Speculations have been going on that chief minister of eastern India's West Bengal state and former ally in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress are planning to move a no-confidence motion against the government in this session.
The Winter Session of Parliament will begin on November 22.
Parliament did not function for the entire Monsoon Session over the demand of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's resignation and cancellation of licences of coal blocks and an independent probe into the coal scam.
Yadav, while interacting with mediapersons after his meeting with Karat, refrained from commenting on the proposed move and said that any decision would only be taken after the session begins.
"The winter session is about to start and in that context I came here to talk and meet Prakash Karat to discuss the strategy for the coming parliament session," said Yadav.
Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hosted a dinner with allies of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition where they held discussions over conducting of business in the parliament.
The TMC had parted ways with the UPA coalition over differences on the fresh economic reforms introduced by the government, including the decision to allow foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail.
However, senior CPM leader Sitaram Yechury paid no heed to the no-confidence threat by the TMC and questioned the regional parties motives.
"First they should bring the no-confidence motion. They say a lot of things and then do something else that has been their history. In reality, we must see what they do and then we shall decide after seeing what support that motion gets," said Yechury.
He also reiterated the leftist stand on FDI in retail by saying that they would be brining in a resolution in the parliament to debate and vote over allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in the retail sector.
"As far as retail in FDI is concerned, we have decided to bring a motion in parliament that it can only be passed through voting," Yechury added.
In September, the government allowed opening of retail sector for foreign investors, which allows global firms such as Wal-Mart Stores to set up shop with a local partner and sell directly to consumers for the first time, which supporters say could transform India's $450 billion retail market and tame inflation.
The cabinet also approved bills to attract FDI into insurance and pensions in the latest move by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to restore confidence in the economy, but the reforms will face a tough fight in parliament. (ANI)