Will defeat no-trust vote, says govt

The numbers are very clear. The BJP by itself has a majority in the lower house. We have nearly 314 members within the NDA and there are many other parties which are likely to oppose this noconfidence motion.

G V L Narasimha Rao, BJP national spokesperson

new delhi — The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday expressed confidence it would be able to defeat the Opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion as it has a majority in the lower house of Parliament, the Lok Sabha, and hoped that it would also manage support from some Opposition parties.

“The numbers are very clear. The BJP by itself has a majority in the lower house. We have nearly 314 members within the NDA and there are many other parties which are likely to oppose this no-confidence motion — because this is completely pointless,” BJP national spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao told reporters outside Parliament.

“We have the numbers and we have the moral fibre to fight this negative opposition, which is only trying to put the country on the path of negativity,” he added.

The no-confidence motion would be taken up in the lower house on Friday for debate and voting. The motion will be the first since the BJP-led NDA government came to power four years ago. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan’s decision to accept the motion moved by former BJP ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and others came on the first day of the Monsoon session.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu had sought the support of other parties for the motion, citing the NDA government’s “non-fulfilment of the promise” to grant special status to his state. Sources in the BJP said the government would get the support of at least 314 MPs in the lower house, which has an effective strength of 533 members.

The Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) said it will support the noconfidence motion and that a whip has been issued to its members asking them to be present in the house on Friday.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena will vote in favour of the BJP-led government, a source close to party chief Uddhav Thackeray said.

Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday said his party will disclose its stand on the floor of the House. “A decision has been taken. We will let it be known inside the House,” he said.

Meanwhile, the AIADMK with 37 members in the Lok Sabha on Thursday indicated that it might not support the opposition’s noconfidence motion. AIADMK Joint Coordinator and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami told reporters in Salem that the no-confidence motion was moved by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for issues concerning Andhra Pradesh.

He said when the AIADMK members had stalled Parliament proceedings for 22 days over Cauvery river water sharing, no other party had offered support. —