BJP issues trust vote whip, Akalis don't

The Bharatiya Janata Party issued a whip to its Lok Sabha members on Monday for the July 22 trust vote even as it made all out efforts to garner support of smaller parties to topple the United Progressive Alliance government in the crucial vote of confidence.

"All the National Democratic Alliance constituents are together and we are confident that the UPA government will fall. The BJP has issued a whip and we are talking to the NDA constituents like the Shiromani Akali Dal, Janata Dal-United, Biju Janata Dal and others," deputy leader of the BJP in the Lok Sabha V K Malhotra told media-persons.

The BJP said all NDA partners, including SAD and Shiv Sena, will vote against the UPA.

"Smaller parties and members of United Nationalist Progressive Alliance are also talking to us to vote against the government," Malhotra said.

A meeting of all NDA chief ministers has been called on July 17 to discuss the forthcoming trust vote, necessitated after the withdrawal of support by the Left parties to UPA government over Indo-US nuclear deal.

Malhotra alleged that the UPA was indulging in dubious means like horse-trading to save the government. He said corporate houses were involved in the process and ministerial berths were being offered to MPs.

The BJP demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the use of money power and blackmail by the Congress to win votes.

Though the Shiromani Akali Dal had extended support to the NDA, it refused to issue a whip and left it on individual members to vote according to their choice during the vote.

A meeting of the Akalis was held under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.

With PTI inputs