Indian government faces confidence vote in parliament (1st Lead)

Jul 22, 2008, 11:43 GMT

New Delhi - The Indian parliament was due to hold a vote of confidence Tuesday evening on the Congress party-led government, which could lead to early polls or scupper a nuclear deal with the United States.

The vote was called after the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) communist partners withdrew their support in protest at the nuclear deal, which they say could impinge on India's sovereignty.

Under the nuclear agreement, the US would provide India fissile material and technology for civilian reactors, ending a three-decade ban. India would in turn open its civilian nuclear reactors to international inspections.

The second day of debate on the confidence motion began amid noisy scenes Tuesday as Finance Minister P Chidambaram taunted left-wing members of parliament.

'There are some people in India who do not want us to catch up with China. There are some people in this country who do not want us to get ahead of China,' Chidambaram said, sparking protests from communist MPs known to be ideologically close to China.

Later, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, scion of the Gandhi political dynasty, said that energy would help India in achieving 9 per cent economic growth, which was the way to fight poverty.

'The point is that if we don't secure our energy our growth will stop,' he said.

But both the left parties and the main opposition National Democratic Alliance have contended that the nuclear deal will impact India's strategic independence and could prevent India from carrying out further tests of nuclear devices.

Moments before the stormy session began, a confident Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived at parliament flashing the V sign for victory.

Singh was scheduled to reply to the debate Tuesday evening, after which the confidence vote was expected to take place.

But even after weeks of horse-trading and defections, the vote was expected to be close.

The government will survive if it obtains 271 votes out of 541 in parliament.

Projections by Indian media said the UPA, whose seats have been reduced to 226 after 59 lawmakers from the left withdrew their support, would garner between 268 and 272 votes with help from the regional Samajwadi Party and other smaller parties.

But the possibility of last-minute defections from the 34-member Samajwadi has created a headache for the UPA.

Congress was also banking on nearly 10 abstentions from the opposition NDA.

With every vote becoming crucial, six MPs serving jail terms were released on bail to participate in the vote. Some parties also paid for charter flights to bring in ailing lawmakers.

A defeat for the UPA would lead to early elections by November in the country that faces slower economic growth and double digit inflation. It could also spell the death of the nuclear deal.

The UPA government is scheduled to complete its five-year term in May 2009.