The suspects in the BJP include Shatrughan Sinha, Kirti Azad, Savitri Bai Phule, Ashok Dohre, Chhote Lal and Rajkumar Saini
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government is certain to win the confidence vote in Lok Sabha on Friday, there are seven MPs, whose loyalties will be on test. Six of whom belong to the BJP, while one is from the Telegu Desam Party (TDP) — the party which moved the no-confidence motion. Two BJP parliamentarians are reportedly unwell and one is abroad.
The suspects in the BJP include Shatrughan Sinha, Kirti Azad, Savitri Bai Phule, Ashok Dohre, Chhote Lal and Rajkumar Saini. The TDP MP from Anantapur, Jutur Chinna Divakar Reddy has already announced to defy the party whip by remaining absent.
Congress leader Manish Tewari said it would be interesting to see how some BJP MPs vote and "the positions they take because essentially this might just be, for all practical purposes, the last session of parliament".
While Kirti Azad stands suspended from the party, Shatrughan Sinha has often been crossing boundaries with the party leadership. Sinha, however, brought a sigh of relief to the party leadership by announcing that he will go along with the party by voting against the no-confidence motion.
"I think there are intellectuals in the Opposition, but they should've done it later. Because we have the numbers and our morale is also up. I haven't left the BJP and the party hasn't left me. As long as I'm in the BJP, I'll support it and follow every whip," he said outside Parliament House. The party leadership is confidence that all these six MPs will vote as per party line.
BJP leaders say the 'rebels' need to weigh their options carefully with elections just ahead. "We have the support of all our allies and we will be able to defeat the motion," said Union Minister Ananth Kumar.
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