Final countdown as govt scramble for numbers

Government managers today maintained that the Congress-led UPA coalition will triumph during the confidence vote with RJD leader and Railways minister Lalu Yadav declaring "we are confident of a thumping majority in favour of the government."     

"Our number is continuously growing. It has now exceeded the 291 mark. There is going to be a great victory for us," said Lalu shortly before the Lok Sabha took up the trust vote.    

Government's tally 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.     

Amid fears in all the camps-- UPA, BJP-led NDA and in BSP, UNFPA-- that some MPs may rebel, the balance sheet of those and against the trust vote still did not throw up clear winners.     

Parties like the 2-member National Conference and one-member Trinamool Congress are keeping their cards close to their chest and may well not come out with their stand until the home run of the 16-hour trust debate.     

BJP leader V K Malhotra claimed that the opponents to the trust vote will get the required numbers to vote out the government. "We need just three to four MPs more," he said.     

BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad claimed "UPA is crumbling" and that there were no defections from the NDA.    

Not to take any chances, BJP rushed in filmstar-turned MP Dharmendra who arrived today from Los Anglese where he is recuperating after a knee surgery.