2008 Lok Sabha vote of confidence
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United Progressive Alliance
The United Progressive Alliance is a ruling coalition of center-left political parties heading the government of India. The coalition is led by the Indian National Congress , which is currently the single largest political party in the Lok Sabha...
(UPA), the governing alliance in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
elected in 2004
Indian general election, 2004
Legislative elections were held in India in four phases between April 20 and May 10, 2004. Over 670 million people were eligible to vote, electing 543 members of the 14th Lok Sabha...
, faced its first confidence vote in the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
(the lower house of Parliament) on 22 July 2008 after the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Communist Party of India (Marxist)
The Communist Party of India is a political party in India. It has a strong presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. As of 2011, CPI is leading the state government in Tripura. It leads the Left Front coalition of leftist parties in various states and the national parliament of...
-led Left Front
Left Front
The Left Front is an alliance of Indian leftist parties. After a 34-year reign in West Bengal, the Left Front was swept from power in the 2011 election...
withdrew support over India approaching the IAEA for the Indo-US nuclear deal. The vote was so crucial that the UPA and the opposition parties summoned MPs from their sick beds and even from prison cells to take part in the vote, which was eventually won by the Government.
Before the vote
Source:The following list consists of the votes, ensured by the United Progressive Alliance
United Progressive Alliance
The United Progressive Alliance is a ruling coalition of center-left political parties heading the government of India. The coalition is led by the Indian National Congress , which is currently the single largest political party in the Lok Sabha...
, on Friday July 11, 2008. The UPA managed to get 268 members. The following list indicates the official position of the political parties before the voting. It does not imply that the members of the respective political parties actually voted along these lines as cross-voting may have taken place, which is not illegal.
| Votes for the Government | Votes against the Government | Undecided |
|---|---|---|
| United Progressive Alliance United Progressive Alliance The United Progressive Alliance is a ruling coalition of center-left political parties heading the government of India. The coalition is led by the Indian National Congress , which is currently the single largest political party in the Lok Sabha... (226)
Others (42)
|
National Democratic Alliance National Democratic Alliance (India) The National Democratic Alliance is a centre-right coalition of political parties in India. At the time of its formation in 1998, it was led by the Bharatiya Janata Party and had thirteen constituent parties. Its convenor is Sharad Yadav, and its honorary chairman is former prime minister Atal... (169)
Left Front Left Front The Left Front is an alliance of Indian leftist parties. After a 34-year reign in West Bengal, the Left Front was swept from power in the 2011 election... (59)
Left-Backed MPs (3)
UNPA United National Progressive Alliance Sometimes known as the Third Front. For the Third Front in power between 1996 and 1998, see United Front . For the Third Front in power between 1989 and 1991, see National Front .... (8)
Others (24)
|
Undecided (11)
Mizo National Front Mizo National Front is a regional political party in Mizoram, India. MNF emerged out of the Mizo National Famine Front, which was formed by Pu Laldenga to protest against the inaction of the Indian central government towards the famine situation in the Mizo areas of the Assam state in 1959. It... (1) Nagaland People's Front The Nagaland People's Front is a political party in the Indian state of Nagaland. 2003-2008 it headed the state government of Nagaland together with Bharatiya Janata Party, as part of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland. Dr. Shürhozelie is the president of the party... (1) All India Trinamool Congress The All India Trinamool Congress is a state political party in West Bengal. Founded in 1 January 1998, the party is led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Trinamool Congress is currently the second largest member of the ruling United Progressive Alliance coalition... (1) Rashtriya Lok Dal Rashtriya Lok Dal is a political party in India. Ajit Singh is the party president. He is carrying on the political legacy of Charan Singh and the original Lok Dal..Ch. Charan Singh was a great farmer leader and was a former Prime Minister of India... (3) Janata Dal (Secular) The Janata Dal is a Centre-left ಕನ್ನಡ: ಜನತಾ ದಳIndian political party led by former Prime Minister of India H.D. Deve Gowda.The party recognized as state party in the states of Karnataka and Kerala . It was formed in July 1999 by the split of Janata Dal party. It has political presence mainly in... (2) Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... (1) Jammu & Kashmir National Conference The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference is a State political party in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Led at the time of Indian Independence in 1947 by Sheikh Abdullah, it dominated electoral politics in the state for many decades... (2) |
UPA and supporters: 268 MPs for the government
NDA and others: 263 MPs against the government
Undecided: 11 MPs
Non-voting: 1 MP
Voting
In the 543 member Lok Sabha, the UPA needed 272 votes for the government to enjoy a simple majority. The UPA won the confidence vote with 275 votes to the opposition's 256, (10 members abstained from the vote) to record a 19-vote victory.Abstensions
Ten members abstained from the voting despite some of them having received strict contrary instructions from their parties.Among the 10, 2 MPs followed their party decision of abstaining so as to not be seen as supporting the UPA or the BJP, Left led opposition. Those two were:
- Trinamool Congress: Mamata BanerjeeMamata BanerjeeMamata Banerjee is the 11th and current chief minister of the Indian state of West Bengal. She is the first woman to hold the office. Banerjee founded All India Trinamool Congress in 1997 and became chairperson, after separating from the Indian National Congress...
and - Mizo National FrontMizo National FrontMizo National Front is a regional political party in Mizoram, India. MNF emerged out of the Mizo National Famine Front, which was formed by Pu Laldenga to protest against the inaction of the Indian central government towards the famine situation in the Mizo areas of the Assam state in 1959. It...
: VanlalzawmaVanlalzawmaVanlalzawma is an Indian politician. Born on 10 February 1956. He was married to C. L. Remtluangi on 16 October 1981.In the confidence voting on July 22, 2008 that the United Progressive Alliance won with a 275-256 margin. Among these ten, two MPs towed their party line of equidistance from the...
.
The other 8 members who abstained defied their party stand. These 8 were:
- Bhartiya Janata Party: Chandrabhan Singh, Manorama Madhavaraj, Kishan Lal DilerKishan Lal DilerKishan Lal Diler is an Indian politician. He stood for the 2004 Lok Sabha elections on the Bharatiya Janata Party ticket and is currently a member of Parliament from Hathras.-External links:*...
and Bahubhai Katara - Shiromani Akali DalShiromani Akali DalThe Shiromani Akali Dal , translation: Supreme Akali Party) is a Sikh nationalist political parties based in Punjab. The current party to be recognized by the Election Commission of India is the one led by Parkash Singh Badal...
: Sukhdev Singh LibraSukhdev Singh LibraSukhdev Singh Libra is a member of the 15th Lok Sabha of India. He represents the Fatehgarh Sahib constituency of Punjab and is a member of the Indian National Congress political party.-External links:*... - Janata Dal (United)Janata Dal (United)Janata Dal is a political party in India with political presence mainly in Bihar and Jharkhand. Janta Dal party mentor and patron is "Veteran Socialist leader" George Fernandes; George Fernandes broke away from the erstwhile Janata Dal and formed the Samata Party in 1994. Presently it is led...
: P.P. Koya - Shiv SenaShiv SenaShiv Sena , is a political party in India founded on 19 June 1966 by Balasaheb Thackeray. It is currently headed by Thackeray's son, Uddhav Thackeray...
: Tukaram Ganpatrao Renge PatilTukaram Ganpatrao Renge PatilTukaram Ganpatrao Renge Patil is a member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India. He represents the Parbhani constituency of Maharashtra and is a member of the Shiv Sena political party.... - Telugu Desam PartyTelugu Desam PartyTelugu Desam Party or TDP is a regional political party in India's Andhra Pradesh state. It was founded by former Telugu film star N. T...
: D K Audikesavulu
Cross voting
The 7 members of the UPA who cross-voted against the government were:- Samajwadi PartySamajwadi PartySamajwadi Party is a political party in India. It is based in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It describes itself as a democratic socialist party...
: Munawwar Hasan, S.P. Singh Baghel, Rajnarayan Budholia, Jaiprakash Rawat, Ateeq Ahmed and Afzal Ansari. - Indian National CongressIndian National CongressThe Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
: Kuldeep BishnoiKuldeep BishnoiKuldeep Bishnoi was a member of the 15th Lok Sabha representing the Bhiwani constituency in Haryana.He is son of former chief minister of Haryana Bhajan Lal.He has floated his own party named Haryana Janhit Congress when his father was denied chief ministerial post after 2005 assembly...
Conversely, there were at least four members of the opposition who cross-voted in favour of the government proposal. These 4 were
- Bhartiya Janata Party: Hari Singh Rathod and H.T. Sangliana.
- Biju Janata DalBiju Janata DalThe Biju Janata Dal is a state political party of the Indian state of Orissa led by Naveen Patnaik, son of former state chief minister Biju Patnaik. It was founded on 27 December 1997.-History:...
: Hari Har SwainHari Har SwainHari Har Swain was a member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India. He represented the Aska constituency of Orissa and is a member of the Indian National Congress. He is a very clean and level headed person who considers truth and honesty to be the best virtues... - Janata Dal (United): Ramswaroop Prasad
Allegations of bribery
Three BJP MPs – Ashok Argal (Morena), Faggan Singh KulasteFaggan Singh Kulaste
Faggan Singh Kulaste is a member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India. He represents the Mandla constituency of Madhya Pradesh and is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party political party....
(Mandla) and Mahavir Bhagora (Salumber) amidst discussion walked towards the Speaker Somnath Chatterjee
Somnath Chatterjee
Somnath Chatterjee is an Indian politician who had been associated with the Communist Party of India for most of his life, though he is currently an independent...
and placed two brown and black leather bags on a table. They pulled out bundles of and alleged that Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh
Amar Singh
Amar Singh may refer to:* Amar Singh , Indian test cricketer* Amar Singh , Indian politician* Amar Singh, son of Maharana Pratap...
had tried to offer them bribe to vote in favor of the government. The BJP MP Kulaste, alleged that Amar Singh and Congress leader Ahmed Patel
Ahmed Patel
Ahmed Patel is a senior leader of Indian National Congress party. He is the present political secretary to Congress President and Leader Sonia Gandhi. Patel is among the core think tank of the INC today. He is one of the crucial leaders in the decision making process of the party at national level...
, an aide to Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi is an Italian-born Indian politician and the President of the Indian National Congress, one of the major political parties of India. She is the widow of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi...
tried to offer bribe of to remain absent from the confidence vote. Amar Singh denied the charges. Speaker Somnath Chatterjee asked the police chief of New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
to investigate the bribery issue. Indian news channel CNN IBN
CNN IBN
Cable News Network-Indian Broadcasting Network is an English-language Indian television news channel. The network is a partnership between Global Broadcast News and Turner International in India . Rajdeep Sardesai is the Editor-in-Chief of the network...
which carried out the sting operation by recording using hidden cameras agreed to share the material with Indian authorities. A joint parliamentary committee formed to investigate the issue submitted its report to the Lok Sabha on December 15, 2008, after finding no evidence for bribery against the MPs Amar Singh and Ahmad Patel, thereby exonerating them.
Expulsions
As a result of not obeying the instructions issued by their political parties, many MPs were expelled as an aftermath of the vote.- The speaker of the houseSpeaker of Lok SabhaThe Speaker is the presiding officer of the lower house of Parliament of India. His/her role is similar to that of Speakers elsewhere in other countries that use the Westminster system of government....
, Somnath ChatterjeeSomnath ChatterjeeSomnath Chatterjee is an Indian politician who had been associated with the Communist Party of India for most of his life, though he is currently an independent...
of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was expelled from his party on 23 July 2008.
- The Bhartiya Janata Party expelled all its eight members who defied party guidelines by cross voting and abstentions during the vote of confidence. The leader of the party L.K Advani also said that July 22 should go down as a black day in parliament history.>
- The Telugu Desam Party has reported that disciplinary action against two of its MPs, D K Adikeshavulu Naidu and M Jagannadham, would be taken as they voted in support of UPA government, though there were reports of abstention by Adikeshavalu Naidu.
- The Biju Janata Dal expelled its MP, Harihara Swain for voting in favor of government.
- The Shiromani Akali Dal has asked for an explanation from its MP who abstained from voting.
Animal sacrifice
- It was reported that the Samajwadi Party legislator Kishore Samrite sacrificed 319 animals - 302 goats, 17 buffaloes - in a 10-day long yagnya for appeasing the Goddess KamakhyaKamakhyaKamakhya is an important Tantric mother goddess closely identified with Kali and Maha Tripura Sundari, according to the Tantric texts that are the basis for her worship at the Kamakhya temple, a 16th century temple in the Kamrup district of Assam...
in order for UPA to win the trust vote. Samrite also offered another 'yagnya' at Ugratara temple in the city and sacrificed two buffalos there. He spent about 17 lakh on the yagnya, and self-confessed to have done it before several times, in distress.