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New Delhi: Fissures have started appearing in the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) even as the coalition government is set to complete four years in office next month.
The exchanges were so far only between the Nationalist Congress Party of federal minister Sharad Pawar and the Congress party that heads the UPA.
It has intensified with allies the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) beginning to take pot shots at each other after JMM chief Shibu Soren's claim to return as federal minister was overlooked during the Sunday expansion of the council of ministers.
Soren, who had quit as coal minister in November 2006 after a non-bailable warrant was issued against him in a murder case, is livid and is talking rebellion.
Court cases
Although he has been absolved in the case by the court, his much-awaited return was blocked since he is still embroiled in several other court cases and is categorised as a tainted leader.
"How about Lalu Prasad Yadav? Is he not also a tainted minister?" an angry Soren said yesterday while referring to the railway minister's involvement in the multi-million dollar fodder scam. Lalu expectedly responded in his typical rustic style by blaming Soren for his own plight.
Political circles are agog with talk that an angry Soren may walk out of the UPA which may lead to downfall of the UPA government in Jharkhand.
The Congress party circles are equally apprehensive about the intentions of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam since it blocked the entry of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi as a federal minister. She was tipped to become a minister ever since she became a member of Rajya Sabha last year.
The unexpected development has opened up the possibility of the DMK, which was a partner in the previous National Democratic Alliance government, distancing itself from the Congress before next year's general elections. The DMK may eventuality join the fledgling third front UNPA being promoted by the Left Front due to its proximity with the Marxists.
Since the rival All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has already abandoned the UNPA, the DMK may take its place, although it may have its repercussions in Tamil Nadu since it is heavily dependent on the Congress party's support for survival of its minority government in the state.
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