The 2008 floor test: When UPA faced no-confidence

NEWDELHI: The nation’s attention was riveted on the Lok Sabha on Friday as it debated the first no-confidence motion in 15 years which the National Democratic Alliance government easily defeated. HT looks back at a special session in 2008, when the United Progressive Alliance(upa) government opted for a floor test after the four Left parties withdrew their support to the coalition over the Indo-us nuclear deal. It was the first trust vote of the UPA government led by Manmohan Singh and it won it with the help of allies. The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government went on to sign the nuclear deal with the US, opening a new, historic chapter in India’s civilian nuclear power programme.

Apart from paving the way for a major diplomatic victory in energy security, the trust vote also had immense political significance.

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) went on to win the next general elections with an improved tally. The Left parties snapped ties with the Congress.

The decline of the Left started thereafter. Manmohan Singh went on to become the only Prime Minister till date from outside the NehruGandhi family who completed two consecutive terms in office.

The political situation that followed the trust vote was the one, where, possibly the first time foreign policy issues became one of the major poll planks.

For the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, the Indo-us nuclear deal transformed India’s recognition as a major civilian nuclear power and the only one without signing the highly lopsided non proliferation agreements.