The fate of India's coalition Government and its historic nuclear deal with the United States was hanging in the balance today as parliament began a debate that will culminate in a no-confidence vote tomorrow. While government and opposition leaders made impassioned speeches before a packed Lok Sabha -- the lower house of the Indian parliament -- backroom dealing reached fever pitch as both sides struggled to make up numbers for the vote. So close are their tallies -- and so high the stakes -- that the Government has temporarily released six MPs who are in jail for crimes including murder and extortion, and the Opposition is flying in two MPs who are recovering from surgery in hospital. If the Congress Party and its allies in the ruling coalition lose, the Government will collapse, triggering a snap election as soon as November that could bring the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) back to power.
The fate of India's coalition Government and its historic nuclear deal with the United States was hanging in the balance today as parliament began a debate that will culminate in a no-confidence vote tomorrow.
While government and opposition leaders made impassioned speeches before a packed Lok Sabha -- the lower house of the Indian parliament -- backroom dealing reached fever pitch as both sides struggled to make up numbers for the vote.
So close are their tallies -- and so high the stakes -- that the Government has temporarily released six MPs who are in jail for crimes including murder and extortion, and the Opposition is flying in two MPs who are recovering from surgery in hospital.
If the Congress Party and its allies in the ruling coalition lose, the Government will collapse, triggering a snap election as soon as November that could bring the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) back to power.
The Indian government may collapse as the country's politicians gather to debate a vote of confidence over a civilian nuclear deal with the US.Manmohan Singh, the prime minister, was forced to call the vote on Monday after his left-wing and communist allies withdrew their support for the Congress party-led coalition in protest over the nuclear deal, which they fear will draw their country closer to the US. India is widely considered a "non-aligned" country.Analysts say the vote, to be held on Tuesday, is too close to call.
The Indian government may collapse as the country's politicians gather to debate a vote of confidence over a civilian nuclear deal with the US.Manmohan Singh, the prime minister, was forced to call the vote on Monday after his left-wing and communist allies withdrew their support for the Congress party-led coalition in protest over the nuclear deal, which they fear will draw their country closer to the US.
India is widely considered a "non-aligned" country.Analysts say the vote, to be held on Tuesday, is too close to call.
