With Mamata not on board, Centre's reform plans depend on Mulayam, Mayawati

NEW DELHI: With the Trinamool Congress determined to oppose legislation related to economic reforms, the Centre's plans hinges on the backing of SP and BSP.

Government managers, who have begun back-channel negotiations with leaders of the two UP parties, are confident of their support for 'less controversial' legislation. While there is acknowledgement in government that the proposal to allow the entry of foreign supermarkets will have to wait for some more time - Mulayam Singh was a signatory to Left-sponsored petition against retail FDI - government managers are hoping for the backing of the two UP parties for the pension reform bill.

Although leaders of two parties are determined to stall Congress' political project in Uttar Pradesh, they have been bailing out the government in critical situations. Their support for Congress' nominees in the presidential and vice-presidential elections even forced Trinamool to rethink on its plans to abstain in the same polls.

TMC has said the government should not count on its support for financial reform legislations. It has also said it will not back the proposal for FDI in avitation or retail sector. This was formally conveyed to the government at a meeting convened by the Speaker on August 6. "We are against taking up anti-people financial sector reform legislations," TMC leader in the Lok Sabha Sudip Bandopadhyay had said.

But if SP and BSP back financial sector reform legislations, the government is prepared to ignore reservations of the Trinamool Congress. These legislations have the support of BJP too. Finance minister P Chidambaram had met BJP leaders and sought their cooperation for the bills.

The passage of the bills are critical for the government's efforts to use the on-going session of Parliament to dispel the impression of a paralysis in governance.