CPI(M) accuses UPA of giving sops to political parties

NEW DELHI: Accusing the UPA of "giving sops" to political parties to muster numbers ahead of the trust vote, CPI(M) on Monday raised eye-brows over the last minute tie- up between Congress and JMM after "promising" a Union Cabinet berth for Jharkhand strong man Shibu Soren.

"A day before he (Prime Minister Manmohan Singh) was telling that he would not expand the cabinet...yesterday one of his political colleagues (Soren) says he has managed to get a cabinet bearth and an MoS position for another party man," senior CPI(M) leader Nilotpal Basu said here.

Soren had yesterday, while announcing the party's support to UPA, claimed that he was promised Union Coal Ministry and one of his MPs would get a Minister of State berth.

Basu said that it was a government whose USP was the image of the Prime Minister and that "the PM is today seen dealing only in falsehoods".

"Regardless of what happens tomorrow I think the government has lost the trust and confidence of people. Means is as much important as the end," said the CPI(M) leader.