View source for 2008 vote of confidence in the Manmohan Singh ministry

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
[[Image:Manmohansingh04052007.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]]]]
The [[United Progressive Alliance]] (UPA), the governing alliance in India [[2004 Indian general election|elected in 2004]], faced its first [[confidence vote]] in the [[Lok Sabha]] (the lower house of Parliament) on 22 July 2008 after the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]-led [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] withdrew support over India approaching the [[IAEA]] for the [[Indo-US nuclear deal]]. The vote was so crucial that the UPA and the opposition parties summoned MPs from their sick beds and even from prison cells to take part in the vote, which was eventually won by the Government.<ref name="Indian government survives vote ">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7519860.stm|title=Indian government survives vote |date=22 July 2008|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-07-22| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080723001456/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7519860.stm| archivedate= 23 July 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

== Before the vote ==
The following list indicates the official position of the political parties before the voting.<ref>{{cite news |last=Joshua |first=Anita |date=2008-06-12 |title=National : Small parties, independents in great demand |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/12/stories/2008071260391200.htm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519184302/http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/12/stories/2008071260391200.htm |archivedate=2009-05-19 |accessdate=2009-05-03 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=left valign=top|Votes for the Government
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=left valign=top|Votes against the Government
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=right|Undecided
|-
|[[United Progressive Alliance]] ('''226''')
*[[Indian National Congress]] (153)
*[[Rashtriya Janata Dal]] (24)
*[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (16)
*[[Nationalist Congress Party]] (11)
*[[Pattali Makkal Katchi]] (6)
*[[Jharkhand Mukti Morcha]] (5)
*[[Lok Jan Shakti Party]] (4)
*[[Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (Breakaway) (2)
*[[All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen]] (1)
*[[Peoples Democratic Party (India)|People's Democratic Party]] (1)
*[[Republican Party of India]] (1)
*[[Sikkim Democratic Front]] (1)
*[[Indian Union Muslim League]] (1)
Others ('''42''')
*[[Samajwadi Party]] (37)
*[[Independent (politician)|Independent]] (3)
*[[Bharatiya Navshakti Party]] (1)
*[[National Loktantrik Party]] (1)

|[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] ('''169''')
*[[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (130)
*[[Shiv Sena (1966–2022)|Shiv Sena]] (12)
*[[Biju Janata Dal]] (11)
*[[Janata Dal (United)]] (8)
*[[Shiromani Akali Dal]] (8)
[[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] ('''59''')
*[[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] (43)
*[[Communist Party of India]] (10)
*[[All India Forward Bloc]] (3)
*[[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]] (3)
Left-Backed MPs ('''3''')
*[[Kerala Congress]] (2)
*[[Janata Dal (Secular)]] (1)
*[[Independent (politician)|Independent]] (1)
[[United National Progressive Alliance|UNPA]] ('''8''')
*[[Telugu Desam Party]] (5)
*[[Asom Gana Parishad]] (2)
*[[Independent (politician)|Independent]] (1)
Others ('''24''')
*[[Bahujan Samaj Party]] (17)
*[[Samajwadi Party]] (Breakaway) (2)
*[[Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (2)
*[[Telangana Rashtra Samithi]] (3)
|Undecided ('''11''')
*[[Mizo National Front]] (1)
*[[Nagaland People's Front]] (1)
*[[All India Trinamool Congress]] (1)
*[[Rashtriya Lok Dal]] (3)
*[[Janata Dal (Secular)]] (2)
*[[Independent (politician)|Independent]] (1)
*[[Jammu & Kashmir National Conference]] (2)

|-
|}
'''UPA and supporters:''' 268 MPs for the government <br />
'''NDA and others:''' 263 MPs against the government <br />
'''Undecided:''' 11 MPs <br />
'''Non-voting:''' 1 MP

== Voting ==

In the 543 member Lok Sabha, the UPA needed 272 votes for the government to enjoy a simple majority.<ref>[http://164.100.47.134/newls/membershomepage.aspx Lok Sabha Members] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831102348/http://164.100.47.134/newls/membershomepage.aspx |date=31 August 2009 }} Lok Sabha</ref> The UPA won the confidence vote with 275 votes to the opposition's 256, (10 members abstained from the vote) to record a 19-vote victory.<ref name="Indian government survives confidence vote ">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/23/world/asia/23india.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin|title=Indian Government Survives Confidence Vote|date=23 July 2007|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Somini|last=Sengupta|accessdate=2010-04-22|archive-date=22 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922173605/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/23/world/asia/23india.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080725045845/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/23/content_8750775.htm Indian gov't wins trust vote in parliament] Xinhua</ref><ref>[http://epaper.kashmirtimes.com/Default.aspx?Id=2B4C6A6F716A4B336C52326F4A47673831396E464B4B79756E764678756A366352543255303869426648303D 275 not out]{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Kashmir Times</ref><ref>[http://in.ibtimes.com/articles/20080723/india-upa-nuclear-deal-trust-vote-confidence-motion-bjp-left-reform.htm Post trust vote victory, India Govt. to move forward with reforms, nuclear deal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921235035/http://in.ibtimes.com/articles/20080723/india-upa-nuclear-deal-trust-vote-confidence-motion-bjp-left-reform.htm |date=21 September 2008 }} International Business times</ref>

== Abstentions ==
Ten members abstained from the voting despite some of them having received strict contrary instructions from their parties.<ref name="ht_abs">[http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/FullcoverageStoryPage.aspx?sectionName=&id=a78363f3-9f54-4f46-9da5-9fa0e4577ae8SinghisKing_Special&MatchID1=4735&TeamID1=8&TeamID2=6&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1194&PrimaryID=4735&Headline=Abstentions+and+cross-voting... Abstentions and cross-voting...]{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Hindustan Times</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Gupta|first=Surojit|title=Government wins confidence vote|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-34626120080722|accessdate=5 December 2011|newspaper=Reuters|date=23 July 2008}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> 
Among the 10, 2 MPs followed their party decision of abstaining so as to not be seen as supporting the UPA or the BJP, Left led opposition. Those two were:
*[[Trinamool Congress]]: [[Mamata Banerjee]] and
*[[Mizo National Front]]: [[Vanlalzawma]].

The other eight members who abstained defied their party stand. These eight were:  
*[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]: [[Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh]], [[Chandrabhan Singh]], [[Manorama Madhavaraj]], [[Kishan Lal Diler]] and [[Bahubhai Katara]]
*[[Shiromani Akali Dal]]: [[Sukhdev Singh Libra]]
*[[Janata Dal (United)]]: [[P.P. Koya]]
*[[Shiv Sena (1966–2022)|Shiv Sena]]: [[Tukaram Ganpatrao Renge Patil]]
*[[Telugu Desam Party]]: [[D K Audikesavulu]]

==Cross voting==

The seven members of the UPA who cross-voted against the government were:
*[[Samajwadi Party]]: [[Chaudhary Munawwar Hasan]], [[S.P. Singh Baghel]], [[Rajnarayan Budholiya]], [[Jai Prakash|Jaiprakash Rawat]], [[Ateeq Ahmed|Atiq Ahmed]] and [[Afzal Ansari]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20130125061233/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Agony-and-ecstasy-for-Amar-all-in-one-day/Article1-325843.aspx Agony and ecstasy for Amar, all in one day] Hindustan Times</ref>
*[[Indian National Congress]]: [[Kuldeep Bishnoi]]<ref name="et_21_MPs">[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PoliticsNation/21_MPs_cross-voted_on_Tuesday/articleshow/3268020.cms 21 MPs cross-voted during Parliament trust motion] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211165342/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PoliticsNation/21_MPs_cross-voted_on_Tuesday/articleshow/3268020.cms |date=11 February 2021 }} Economic Times</ref>

Conversely, there were at least four members of the opposition who cross-voted in favour of the government proposal. These 4 were<ref name="et_21_MPs"/>
*[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]: [[Harising Nasaru Rathod]] and [[H.T. Sangliana]].
*[[Biju Janata Dal]]: [[Hari Har Swain]]
*[[Janata Dal (United)]]: [[Ramswaroop Prasad]]

==Allegations of bribery==
{{main|Notes-for-Vote scandal}}

Three BJP MPs – [[Ashok Argal]] ([[Morena (Lok Sabha constituency)|Morena]]), [[Faggan Singh Kulaste]] ([[Mandla (Lok Sabha constituency)|Mandla]]) and [[Mahavir Bhagora]] ([[Salumber (Lok Sabha constituency)|Salumber]]) amidst discussion walked towards the Speaker [[Somnath Chatterjee]] and placed two brown and black leather bags on a table. They pulled out bundles of {{INRConvert|1000|nolink=yes}} and alleged that Samajwadi Party leader [[Amar Singh (Uttar Pradesh politician)|Amar Singh]] had tried to offer them bribe to vote in favour of the government.<ref name="SINGH IS KING: UPA WINS TRUST VOTE" /> The BJP MP Kulaste, alleged that Amar Singh and Congress leader [[Ahmed Patel]], an aide to [[Sonia Gandhi]] tried to offer bribe of {{INRConvert|90|m|nolink=yes}} to remain absent from the confidence vote. Amar Singh denied the charges.<ref name="SINGH IS KING: UPA WINS TRUST VOTE">{{cite news|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/singh-is-king-upa-wins-trust-vote/69332-3-p1.html|title=SINGH IS KING: UPA WINS TRUST VOTE|date=22 July 2008|publisher=CNN IBN|accessdate=2008-07-22| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080725003751/http://www.ibnlive.com/news/singh-is-king-upa-wins-trust-vote/69332-3-p1.html| archivedate= 25 July 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> Speaker Somnath Chatterjee asked the police chief of New Delhi to investigate the bribery issue.<ref>[http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ipIyoGI9ajOiSEfU3B53Xnp0bkUw Indian PM celebrates vote win, says millions will benefit] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520152129/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ipIyoGI9ajOiSEfU3B53Xnp0bkUw |date=20 May 2011 }} AFP</ref> Indian news channel ''[[CNN IBN]]'' which carried out the sting operation by recording using hidden cameras agreed to share the material with Indian authorities.<ref name=" CNN-IBN: ready to submit sting material to Speaker">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/23/stories/2008072360031200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725014033/http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/23/stories/2008072360031200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 July 2008|title= CNN-IBN: ready to submit sting material to Speaker|date=23 July 2008|location=Chennai, India|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]| accessdate= 4 August 2010 }}</ref> A joint parliamentary committee formed to investigate the issue submitted its report to the Lok Sabha on 15 December 2008, after finding no evidence for bribery against the MPs Amar Singh and Ahmad Patel, thereby exonerating them.<ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/parl-panel-exonerates-amar-singh-in-cashforvotes-scam/398692/ Parl panel exonerates Amar Singh in cash-for-votes scam] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525081841/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/parl-panel-exonerates-amar-singh-in-cashforvotes-scam/398692/ |date=25 May 2009 }}. Retrieved 16 September 2010.</ref> In March 2011, a parliamentary panel recommended a formal investigation into the bribery allegations, following renewed scrutiny of the cash-for-votes scandal by opposition parties and media.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-03-22 |title=India cable 'authentic' - Assange |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12815000?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-07-02 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Expulsions ==
As a result of not obeying the instructions issued by their political parties, many MPs were expelled as an aftermath of the vote.

* The [[Speaker of Lok Sabha|speaker of the house]], [[Somnath Chatterjee]] of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was expelled from his party on 23 July 2008.
* The Bhartiya Janata Party expelled all its eight members who defied party guidelines by cross voting and abstentions during the vote of confidence. The leader of the party [[L. K. Advani]] also said that 22 July should go down as a black day in parliament history.<ref>{{cite web|title=BJP expels all rebel MPs who voted for UPA|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bjp-expels-all-rebel-mps-who-voted-for-upa/69407-3.html?xml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015172437/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bjp-expels-all-rebel-mps-who-voted-for-upa/69407-3.html?xml|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 October 2012| accessdate= 10 June 2011 }}</ref>
* The Telugu Desam Party has reported that disciplinary action against two of its MPs, [[D. K. Adikesavulu Naidu]] and M. Jagannadham, would be taken as they voted in support of UPA government,<ref name="TDP to take action against MPs who voted for UPA">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-07-23/india/27938556_1_trust-vote-disciplinary-action-mps|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021103416/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-07-23/india/27938556_1_trust-vote-disciplinary-action-mps|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 October 2012|title=TDP to take action against MPs who voted for UPA|date=23 July 2008|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=2008-07-23}}</ref> though there were reports of abstention by Adikeshavalu Naidu.<ref name="ht_abs" />
* The Biju Janata Dal expelled its MP, Harihara Swain for voting in favour of government.<ref name="BJD, SAD cross-voters face expulsion">{{cite news|url=http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14721640|title=BJD, SAD cross-voters face expulsion|date=23 July 2008|website=[[Sify]]|accessdate=2008-07-22| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080727095315/http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14721640| archivedate= 27 July 2008 | url-status= dead}}</ref>
* The Shiromani Akali Dal has asked for an explanation from its MP who abstained from voting.<ref name="BJD, SAD cross-voters face expulsion" />

==Animal sacrifice==
* It was reported that the Samajwadi Party MLA from [[Lanji (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Lanji]] Kishore Samrite sacrificed 319 animals – 302 goats, 17 buffaloes – in a 10-day-long [[yajna]] at [[Guwahati]]'s [[Kamakhya Temple|Kamakhya temple]] for appeasing the Goddess [[Kamakhya]] in order for UPA to win the trust vote. Samrite also offered another 'yajna' at [[Ugratara Devalaya|Ugratara temple]] in the city and sacrificed two buffalos there.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jul/29upavote1.htm|title=319 animals killed for UPA survival. Divinity?|accessdate=2008-07-29| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080801002957/http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jul/29upavote1.htm| archivedate= 1 August 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> He spent about 17 lakh on the yajna, and self-confessed to have done it before several times, in distress.

==External links to speeches==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121023143615/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-07-22/india/27927772_1_astrologers-home-minister-shri-advani Dr. Manmohan Singh's speech]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090409220951/http://www.congressmedia.net/articles/ourleaders/pchidambaram/22jul2008.rst P.Chidambaram's speech]}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2008 Lok Sabha Vote of Confidence}}
[[Category:2008 in politics|Lok Sabha vote of confidence]]
[[Category:2008 in Indian politics|Lok Sabha vote of confidence]]
[[Category:Political history of India]]
[[Category:14th Lok Sabha]]
[[Category:Manmohan Singh administration]]
[[Category:Votes of no confidence in Asia]]
[[Category:July 2008 in India]]