Indian government wins confidence vote in parliament (3rd Lead)

Jul 22, 2008, 16:14 GMT

New Delhi - India's Congress party-led government won a parliamentary confidence vote on Tuesday that was seen as crucial to the fate of a civilian nuclear deal with the United States.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's coalition won the vote 275-256, with 10 abstentions. The vote was called after the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) communist partners withdrew their support in protest at the nuclear accord, which they say could impinge on India's strategic sovereignty.

Scenes of jubilation broke out at Congress party headquarters as the result was announced. The emphatic 19-vote margin of victory paves the way for the implementation of the landmark nuclear deal.

The agreement allows the US to trade fissile materials and technology with India, ending a three-decade ban. India would in turn, open its civilian nuclear reactors to international inspections.

Tuesday's vote came hours after claims of corruption triggered a tumult in parliament. Lawmakers from the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) flashed wads of currency in the house, alleging they were bribed to abstain from the vote.

Opposition leader LK Advani said the UPA had tried to bribe three BJP lawmakers by offering them 30 million rupees (700,000 dollars) each to abstain.

Describing it as a 'very sad day in the history of parliament', Speaker Somnath Chatterjee promised a thorough probe into what the media described as the worst corruption scandal in the Indian parliament.

'I can assure you that no one who is guilty will be spared,' he added.

The vote took place Tuesday evening after opposition MPs prevented Singh from replying during the two-day long debate on the motion.

Amid shouts of 'the PM should resign' by opposition MPs, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee put the motion to a voice vote. The speaker then ordered a division meaning that MPs could cast their vote electronically. Some MPs preferred to vote on slips of paper.

A defeat for the UPA would have led 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.