INDIA'S 10 month old United Front coalition government was on the brink of collapse yesterday after the Congress Party, its largest supporter, withdrew its backing and staked its claim to form the federal government.
The Prime Minister, Mr H. D. Deve Gowda, will now have to take a vote of confidence or resign giving way to another leader who will have to prove his majority in the 545 member Lok Sabha or lower house.
In the event of no leader emerging - which appears likely, given the difficulty all major parties face, in cobbling together 272 MPs to form the government - India will be forced into a general election, the second in less than a year.
The Congress Party president, Mr Sitaram Kesri, meanwhile, handed over a letter to the Indian' President, Mr Shanker Dayal Sharma, yesterday stating that his party was withdrawing its support to the coalition as it "lacked coordination, direction and the will to govern".
He said the government had made no effort to suppress sectarian and separatist forces in the country, curb rising prices and unemployment or address sensitive defence and security issues. "The principle of collective responsibility was completely ignored," the letter stated.
Mr Sharma, meanwhile, is likely to seek legal opinion before deciding the United Front's fate.
Officials said he might ask the Front to remain in office and prove its majority in parliament which is reconvening on April 21st.
The Congress Party never joined the left of centre coalition government but extended it support from the outside, helping it in passing legislation.
The United Front coalition came to power last June after an inconclusive result in general elections in which Congress suffered its worst ever electoral defeat.
United Front MPs, meanwhile, said Mr Gowda would meet the challenge presented by Congress by seeking a vote of confidence as he expected "several" MPs from the politically fractured Congress, riven with internecine rivalry to support him.
The 13 party United Front coalition has 180 MPs and Congress 144. Both parties would need the support of smaller, regional parties to form the government.
The opposition, on the other hand, led by the Hindu fundamentalist Bharatiya Janata Party, (BJP) and its allies has 195 MPs.
Analysts said they too would find it difficult to ally with other regional parties because of their communal and anti Muslim policies. Emerging as the largest party after the last election, the BJP was called upon to form the government, but lasted just 13 days as it was unable to prove its majority.
The withdrawal of support by Congress comes at an awkward moment as India and Pakistan were engaged in their first round, of negotiations for three years to try and ease tension between the nuclear capable neighbours who have fought three wars since independence 50 years ago.
Officials said India's political crisis would overshadow the ongoing talks in New Delhi and make any progress unlikely as the legitimacy of the United Front government was now suspect. The talks end today. At risk also is Mr Gowda's budget for the coming financial year, which was unveiled on February 28th but is still being debated in parliament.
