Ready for elections, this government is on ventilator: BJP

Mangalore Today / NDTV

New Delhi, March, 19: Minutes after the DMK pulled out of the Congress-led coalition at the Centre, the BJP said it is always ready for elections.

The government, however, is safe, despite being in a minority. It needs at least 273 seats to remain in power. Without the DMK, it has 230. But with the external support of regional powerhouses Mayawati and Mulayam, it crosses the crucial half-way mark of 271.

"This government is on ventilator support," said BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

The crisis for the government is caused by its position on a United Nations resolution on war crimes in Sri Lanka.

The DMK, which is based in Tamil Nadu, wants the Indian government to introduce stronger language into the resolution, including the use of the word "genocide."

Finance Minister P Chidambaram said today that the government is examining the draft of the US resolution to determine "whether amendments can be made to strengthen that resolution."

He also said that senior Congress ministers are consulting with other political parties to weigh the DMK’s other "suggestion" of the Indian Parliament adopting a resolution on Sri Lanka issue.