June 22, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 17, 1429

NEW DELHI, June 21: An ally of India’s ruling alliance withdrew support for the government on Saturday in protest against high inflation, adding to the woes of Premier Manmohan Singh already under fire from leftist partners over a nuclear deal.

The regional Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which holds only 17 seats in parliament but is seen as powerful in India’s dynamic coalition politics, also accused the government of neglecting Uttar Pradesh, the northern state where the party is based.

Rising prices are a major headache for India’s coalition government with less than a year to go for elections. India’s wholesale price index rose 11.05 per cent in the 12 months to June 7 on Friday, the highest rate in 13 years as the effects of a hike in fuel prices hit inflation.

The government is also under pressure from its other allies, particularly the communists, to bring prices down and also over a controversial civilian nuclear deal with the United States which they oppose.

Schoolteacher-turned-politician Mayawati announced she was ending her backing for Singh’s Congress party-led government. “The Congress party has neglected poor workers as well as the Dalits (low-caste Hindus) and so my Bahujan Samaj Party is withdrawing support from the government,” she said in Lucknow, capital of Uttar Pradesh state.

“This government has failed miserably to check inflation and the rise in prices of essential commodities — especially food items — and is pursuing policies which are not in the interest of the people,” she said.

Mayawati, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, also cited alleged neglect by Congress of her BSP-led provincial administration.

The BSP’s move will not topple the minority government. But it comes at a time when 59 communist MPs have threatened to withdraw their support over a civilian nuclear energy deal with Washington and force an early general election.

The government argues that the deal, which would give India access to the worldwide civilian nuclear energy trade even though it has not signed global non-proliferation pacts, is crucial for the country’s energy security.

Some political analysts, however, suggested Mayawati’s departure could help the beleaguered prime minister. “This withdrawal of support by Mayawati may draw other regional parties to help the prime minister out of his troubles” since they are reluctant to face early polls, said Anand Ojha, a political scientist at Delhi University.

General election is due by May 2009.

The Samajwadi (Socialist) Party, which is at daggers drawn with Mayawati, refused to support Congress after it swept into power but might now have a change of heart, Ojha said.

He noted that the party, which has 39 MPs, had shown signs of warming up to Congress.—Agencies