Who Turned The One Vote That Led To The Fall Of Vajpayee Government In 1999? Sharad Pawar Reveals
In 1999, Vajpayee had to prove his government's majority in a floor test. He received 269 votes, one short of the required figure of 270.
The NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999 fell by just one vote in a no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha. The Vajpayee government was subjected to the floor test on April 17, 1999, after the AIADMK withdrew its support to the NDA. Vajpayee got 269 votes in favour and 270 against.
Almost two decades later, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who was the Leader of Opposition, revealed that he had turned the one vote from the ruling coalition NDA in his favour, reported The Times Of India.
NCP chief Pawar made this revelation on Thursday, February 21, at the launch of Nilesh Kumar Kulkarni's Marathi book 'Sansad Bhavan Te Central Vista' at Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi. He spoke about the events of 1999 when he was the Leader of the Opposition during the Vajpayee government.
Recalling the no-confidence vote, he said, "I was the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament at that time. When we were in the opposition, a no-confidence motion was brought against them. This motion was passed by one vote. Now I am telling you how I got that vote. After the no-confidence motion was presented, there was a break. During that time I went out and spoke to someone and came back. The government fell by one vote because one person from the ruling party had decided something else. But I will not tell you whom I spoke to and how it happened."
Pawar also recalled his days spent with Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. He said that Bal Thackeray used to call him "Sharad babu".
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