The winter session of Parliament got off on a stormy note on Thursday, with the first day getting washed out over FDI in multi-brand retail even as an effort by Trinamool Congress to bring the no-confidence motion flopped due to lack of requisite numbers.

On a day the Lok Sabha was adjourned twice before being adjourned for the day at 2 pm, the BJP pressed for a discussion on the FDI in retail issue under Rule 184, which entails voting.

The Left has already given notice for discussion under the same rule. The Samajwadi Party has also given a notice for adjournment motion on FDI, which speaker Meira Kumar said was under her consideration.

As soon as the two Houses met for the day, there was uproar in Rajya Sabha over issues like FDI and reservation to SCs/STs in promotions.

In Lok Sabha, an attempt by former UPA ally Trinamool Congress to bring a no-confidence motion against the government over FDI in retail failed, with the Speaker disallowing it as it could not muster the required support of 54 members.

The motion, first in the current Lok Sabha, was moved by Trinamool Congress parliamentary party leader Sudip Bandopadhyay and was supported by BJD.
However, it lacked the requisite numbers, as only TMC's 18 members and BJD's three MPs supported the motion.

The motion said, "This House expresses want of confidence in the council of ministers over its decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail as it is going to harm millions of small businesses."  

Manmohan seeks help of colleagues, opposition
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sought the cooperation of all his colleagues in both Houses to come together and address issues and challenges facing the nation.

Against the backdrop of vociferous opposition to FDI in retail, Singh also reminded the opposition of the obligation to work together to enable parliamentary democracy to grapple with the formidable challenges before the country.

Noting that Parliament had a very heavy legislative agenda during the winter session, Singh said, "I seek cooperation from my colleagues in the House to come together and address the issues and challenges that we face as a nation."

The prime minister said the government was ready to discuss all issues on the floor of both Houses. "We all have an obligation, in Opposition as well as in government, to work together to enable our parliamentary democracy, of which we are genuinely proud of, to grapple with the formidable challenges facing our country," Singh told reporters outside Parliament house.

He said the country was faced with many problems on the economic front arising out of the consequences of global economic slowdown. "We need to create new jobs on a large enough scale to provide gainful employment to our youth. We need to increase investments in infrastructure sectors and social services like health and education to accelerate the tempo of economic growth," he said.

The prime minister said the government is committed to these tasks but its success required cohesive collective action on the part of all segments of polity. "I invite all political parties to join hands in this vital national endeavour," Singh said.