PRESS: SP may seek Chidambaram removal in lieu of support to govt

[K.Karthik Raja]

PRESS: SP may seek Chidambaram removal in lieu of support to govt
Thursday, Jul 3
.
NEW DELHI - Samajwadi Party is likely to demand removal of Finance
Minister P. Chidambaram and Petroleum Minister Murli Deora in exchange
for its
support to the government, a report in The Times of India said today.
The report said the Uttar Pradesh-based party, which has 39
members in Lok
Sabha, is also likely to press for the ouster of Reserve Bank of India
Governor Y.V. Reddy.
The fate of United Progressive Alliance government now hinges on
Samajwadi
Party's support, as Left's pullout looks imminent over the dispute on
the
Indo-U.S. nuclear deal.
The party believes Chidambaram, Deora and Reddy are responsible
for
mismanagement of the economy and rise in prices.
India's headline inflation rate has galloped to a 13-year high of
11.42%
despite a series of fiscal and monetary measures.
The government, led by the Congress party, has come in for sharp
criticism
from all quarters on its "inability" to curb price rise. Price spurt
will be a
major election issue raised by the Opposition when general elections
are held
next year.