UPA inching towards the magic number

New Delhi, July 20: In the countdown to the trust vote, MPs broke ranks on a day of surprises at the end of which the UPA Government appeared to be inching towards the numbers required for its survival bolstered largely by the announcement of support from the five member JMM group.

On a day of fluctuating fortunes, the anti-Government camp received a boost early in the day with Deve Gowda's JD(S) and Ajit Singh's RLD having three members each pledging to vote against the confidence motion on July 22 in the Lok Sabha.

However, Congress managers were able to persuade JMM to side with them and by the evening one MP each from BJP and JD(U) as well as two independents to announce their support to the Government.

Government's tally tonight stood at 266 pledged votes while 265 were ranged against it. Arithmetically the Government will need the support of 271 MPs but this figure could be reduced if some MPs from the opposition camp abstain as is widely speculated.

Among the nine undecided MPs, the two member National Conference is likely to do no harm to the UPA coalition.

The SP, which has lost four to five MPs to BSP, produced a BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at a press conference to announce his switching of loyalties. Earlier in the SP General Secretary Amar Singh claimed that seven to eight BSP MPs would support the motion.

Likewise, JD(U) MP Ram Swarup Prasad from Bihar said he would vote for the Government in defiance of his party whip.

His party colleague S S Koya from Lakshadweep is believed to be planning to abstain on grouds of ill-health.

A Bodo MP from Assam S K Biswamuthiary also announced his support to the government while a suspended BJP MP from Gujarat Sombhai Patel claimed he was under no obligation to follow the party whip.