'If Left backs out, BJP will press for trust vote'

NEW DELHI/KANPUR: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday indicated it could press for a no-confidence motion in parliament against the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) if the Left parties withdraw support over differences on the India-US civil nuclear deal.

"If the Left withdraws its support from the government, then we would press for the government to prove its majority on the floor of the house," BJP chief Rajnath Singh said in Kanpur.

BJP sources said the party leadership has not discussed the issue of bringing a no confidence motion formally within any party fora so far. The issue could be discussed once the Left Front formally announces withdrawal of support, a senior BJP leader said.

The Left parties, with  61 members  in the Lok Sabha, prop the UPA government. They have  been threatening to pull out if the government goes ahead with the  proposed nuclear deal. If they do so, the UPA would lose majority support in the Lok Sabha, threatening the existence of its government

The Congress, which leads the UPA, is already in talks with Samajwadi Party that has 39 MPs, and a host of smaller parties to seek their support.