SINGH IS KING: UPA WINS TRUST VOTE

KING CONG HERE TO STAY: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Government won the trust vote in Lok Sabha.

    

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Keywords: Amar Singh, Sonia Gandhi

New Delhi: On a tumultuous day for Indian politics, speeches good and bad, drama over cash bribes for votes, the UPA Government won the vote of confidence in Parliament. The Government got 275 votes in favour and 256 against and abstentions were two. Total of 487 members participated in the trust vote.

In a House with an effective strength of 541, it was not immediately clear how many abstained. The results were announced after nearly an hour when officials corrected the

initial figures, which showed 253 votes in favour of the motion, 232 against and two abstentions.

In the din caused by BJP members demanding Prime Minister's resignation and shouting down his speech, Singh laid his reply to the debate on the table of the House.

As Opposition members pressed for a division, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee ordered voting by electronic voting machine.

The Prime Minister sought the confidence of the House after the Left parties, which provided outside support since May 2004, withdrew it on the issue of Government operationalising the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal by approaching the IAEA.

Ten MPs did not record their vote in the house of 531. Seven BJP MPs, two from the Telugu Desam Party and one from the Biju Janata Dal voted for the Government motion.

"The ayes have it, the ayes have it," Chatterjee announced, bringing smiles on the face of Manmohan Singh, who began receiving congratulatory messages from scores of MPs, Congress President Sonia Gandhi included. At the same time, wild celebrations erupted in the headquarters of the Congress party in the heart of New Delhi.

A beaming prime minister told reporters after the result, "India is prepared to take its rightful place in the comity of nations." The reference was to the nuclear deal, which the Government can now move forward without any hiccups.

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi echoed the sentiment, "I believe this nuclear deal is in the interest of the nation. I am proud of the PM."

It was a dramatic turn of fortunes after a suspense-filled weekend. At one point it was felt that a divided but determined Opposition was running neck and neck with the Congress-led UPA and those who came to its rescue after the Left called off its support to the UPA over the controversial nuclear deal.

The two-day debate also ended amid hostility – which also marked much of the proceedings – with Manmohan Singh unable to give his final speech because of noisy protests, primarily by BJP MPs. They were demanding the resignation of the prime minister over the sordid display of tainted money in the Lok Sabha.

"We knew all along that we will have a decisive margin," Minister of State for Industries and Congress MP Ashwini Kumar said. "The Indo-US nuclear deal has been endorsed by this vote."

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