While BJP is confident over getting support from 314 MPs in the Lok Sabha, the Congress debunk the claims that it doesn't have the requisite number of MPs to win the vote.
On Thursday, BJP MP Ananth Kumar has claimed that the BJP-led NDA government has the majority support. Speaking to media, Kumar reiterated by saying that Modi government has the majority both inside and outside Parliament. "Sonia ji's maths is weak. They had calculated similarly in 1996. We know what happened then. Their calculation is wrong yet again. Modi govt has majority both inside & outside Parliament. NDA will vote against No Confidence Motion. NDA+ will also support us."
In the latest development, according to the source, Shiv Sena may boycott no-confidence voting tomorrow. While speaking to media on Thursday, Sanjay Raut, the Shiv Sena MP said, "In democracy, voice of the Opposition should be heard first even if it consists of one person. Even we (Shiv Sena) will speak when it is required. During voting, whatever Uddav Thakachey directs us, we will do."
Here read to know what is 'No-confidence motion' and how is it going to affect the government:
What is a no-confidence motion?
• A government can function only when it has majority support in the Lok Sabha.
• The party can remain in power when it shows its strength through a floor test.
• The floor test is primarily taken to know whether the executive enjoys the confidence of the legislature.
• If any member of the House feels that the government in power does not have a majority then he/she can move a no-confidence motion.
• A no-confidence motion is a statement that states that a public official is no longer fit to retain his or her position of power.
• If the motion is accepted, then the party in power has to prove its majority in the House. The member need not give a reason for moving the no-confidence motion.
• After the motion of no-confidence is raised by a member, the Speaker of the House reads the written notice (of no-confidence).
• All those favouring it are asked to announce their support and if there are 50 MPs in favour, the Speaker allots a date (within the next 10 days) to discuss the motion.
• However, the Speaker cannot proceed if there is a din or confusion prevailing in the House.'
Reason to push a no-confidence motion
A member can move a no-confidence motion due to various reasons like:
• If he/she feels the government or a public official is failing to carry out duties and promises
• If he/she feels the government is making decisions that other members feel are detrimental or a general loss of trust in running the government.
What if PM loses the motion of confidence?
• If the Prime Minister Narendra Modi loses a motion of confidence, he is expected to resign, following which the President identifies another person who enjoys the confidence of the Lok Sabha.
• The majority mark is 268. The list of the 314 MPs, however, does not include Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who is also a BJP MP.
BJP hopes to get support of 314 MPs
• The BJP believes that when an opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi dispensation would be put to vote on Friday, the ruling government will get the support of as many as 314 MPs in the Lok Sabha.
• According to the estimate by the party's floor managers, the government is likely to get support from small parties outside the NDA such as Anbumani Ramadoss-led PMK and Raju Shetty-led Swabhimani Paksha.
• Although Shetty and Ramadoss are no longer members of the NDA, but the government believes that they would support it during the vote on the motion.
• Sources in the party said the Narendra Modi-led government would get the support of 314 MPs in the lower house, which has an effective strength of 535 members.
Congress exudes confidence over success against Modi govt
• The Congress on Wednesday exuded confidence over the success of the 'no-confidence motion' against the Modi government.
• On being asked that the Congress and the other opposition parties, moving the no-confidence motion against the government, did not have required the numbers, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament, "Who says we don't have the numbers?"
• The party has accused the ruling government of failing on all fronts by not keeping its promises made to the people.
• Addressing a joint press conference, Congress leaders K C Venugopal and Rajiv Satav said the Narendra Modi government has failed to fulfill various promises it had made to the people of the country before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
BJP issues a two-day whip to its Lok Sabha members
• All BJP members of the Lok Sabha have been issued a whip on Wednesday to be present in the House today and tomorrow.
• The direction was issued by BJP Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha Anurag Thakur as the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government will be taken up for consideration on Friday.
• Thakur tweeted, "I have issued three-linene whip requesting all BJP Lok Sabha MP's to be present positively in the House on July 19 and 20."
• Thakur, a three-time MP from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh, has recently been appointed as the ruling party's chief whip in the Lower House.
Opposition also issues a whip to all its MPs
• The Congress has also issued a three-line whip to all its MPs in the Lok Sabha to be present on Friday when the no-confidence motion is taken up in the House.
• Meanwhile,TMC leader Derek O' Brien has confirmed that Trinamool Congress (TMC) has also issued a whip, asking its all 34 MPs to be present for discussion and voting
• Telegu Desam Party (TDP) also issued whip asking its MPs to attend the no-confidence debate in the House on July 19 and 20.
(With inputs from PTI)