JOIN USAhead of the Parliament session beginning November 22, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is meeting leaders of UPA constituents and outside supporters to firm up a strategy to unitedly face any Opposition onslaught on issues like FDI in retail and price hike.
Singh is hosting dinner for the leaders of allied parties during which the strategy would be discussed for the upcoming Winter Session, sources said.
Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh Yadav, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah were invited for dinner on Friday night, the sources said.
Leaders of other allies like NCP, BSP, DMK and RLD have been called for dinner on Sunday, they said.
The prime minister will be discussing how the UPA and allies can unitedly face in Parliament the Opposition which is gearing up to attack the government for allowing 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail besides hike in diesel price and cap on subsidised LPG cylinders at six per year.
Trinamool Congress, which quit the government over two months back, has vowed to rake up these issues during the upcoming Parliament session and even threatened that it could move no-confidence motion.
The prime minister has been maintaining that the recent decisions, including FDI in retail, will benefit the common man and has been accusing the Opposition of spreading misinformation. Singh has been insisting that “tough” and “difficult” decisions are necessary to boost the sagging economy and create jobs.