No-confidence motion: Day of mixed fortunes for BJP and Opposition

The debate on the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government in the Lok Sabha belied the expectations of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strategists that some of the regional parties might come out in its support. 

In the morning, the BJP was jolted when Shiv Sena’s 18 MPs decided to abstain from attending the day’s proceedings. BJP president Amit Shah had reached out to Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on the eve of the no-confidence motion, but to little avail. 

The Sena also threatened that it might end its alliance with the BJP for the Lok Sabha polls. Sena MP Sanjay Raut applauded