No-confidence motion against govt accepted in Lok Sabha, first since 2003

New Delhi, July 16: Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Wednesday accepted the no-confidence motion raised by the Telugu Desam Party against the Modi government over special status to Andhra Pradesh.

Discussion on the no-confidence motion will happen on Friday in Lok Sabha and Monday in Rajya Sabha, according to reports.

A notice for a no-trust motion needs the support of at least 50 Mps. The no-trust motion does not endanger the BJP-led government. The BJP has 273 members in the Lok Sabha, far over the half-way mark, besides the allies.

On the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) moved the motion which was admitted by Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan.

Earlier, in August 2003, the Congress with the help of other opposition parties had brought a motion of no-confidence against the Atal Bihari Vajpayee led NDA government following re-induction of George Fernandes in the Union Cabinet as Defense Minister. At that time, although the Vajpayee government had sufficient number, the Opposition saw it as an opportunity to put the NDA government in the dock on several issues.

It was the first non-Congress government that had successfully completed its full term under Atal Bihar Vajpayee.The NDA secured 312 votes, and the opposition vote count was 186 votes.

In 2008, the Congress-led coalition faced a confidence vote - in which the government tests whether it still has enough numbers in parliament - after the Left pulled out support over the India-US nuclear deal.

Earlier, Lok Sabha proceedings began on a stormy note on the first day of the Monsoon Session today, amid sloganeering and protests in the Well even as the House went ahead with the Question Hour.

As soon as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan took up the Question Hour, members from Opposition parties, including the Congress wanted to raise various issues. Members from the TDP and the SP trooped into the Well.

An assertive Mahajan told members that issues can be discussed after the Question Hour. "I won't allow...," she said even as many members continued to raise slogans. Members from the TDP, a former ally of the ruling NDA government, trooped into the Well with placards and were heard saying, "we want justice". They demanded special status for Andhra Pradesh.