Vote won, trust lost: Is Govt's victory tainted?

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Is the vote tainted due to the politics involved?

The Congress has roped in JMM chief Shibu Soren – arguably one of the most controversial politicians of recent times – and MPs with criminal backgrounds have been brought in to create convenient political affiliations. Verghese did not think jailbirds voting could be considered a taint. “The fact that they are voting is part of the law of the land. Unless you changed the law, they are entitled to vote. And you can’t change the rules in the middle of the game (vote),” he said.

Mitra said Verghese’s argument was painful. He said it was surprising that Salve, who always stood for morality in journalism, had taken such a legal stand on the issue. “The fact that so many MPs who are members of the party decided to go against it and that Soren was brought back shows there’s something wrong,” he argued.

Salve responded to the argument and said two wrongs – and in this case multiple wrongs - do not make it right. “We as citizens are horrified. The criminal justice system in India is in disrepair so these people do all these things. Hasn’t yesterday’s ugly spectacle shaken anyone out of their roots?” he questioned.

The debate concluded with another straw poll: Was the Trust Vote a bi-partisan one? Did Manmohan Singh Government actually pay a big price for the victory?

Verghese: It was a normal, bi-partisan vote.

Mitra: It’s a case of a defeated Parliament having bought its way to victory and it was a partisan vote procured through illegitimate means.

Salve: Yesterday’s Trust Vote was nothing about nuclear deal. It was just about who should and who should not be in Parliament.

The Web poll showed that a slender majority believed the vote was clean. Following are the results:

Has Manmohan Singh won a tainted vote?

Yes: 44 per cent

No: 56 per cent