No Confidence Motion: AIADMK Votes in Favour of Modi Govt in LS

Earlier, Tamil Nadu CM hinted at not supporting the motion saying it was moved by TDP over an issue concerning AP.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

(Photo: PTI/IANS/Altered by The Quint)

The NDA government has sailed through the no-confidence motion tabled against it in the Lok Sabha, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi dubbing it a result of the opposition’s “arrogance” and its ‘Modi hatao’ mindset as he hit back at Rahul Gandhi over “childish” behaviour.

The government got the support of 325 members, while 126 backed the motion with 451 MPs present in the House.

Several AIADMK members opposed the motion, in a boost to the NDA while members of the Shiv Sena, BJD and TRS were not present in the House when the voting took place.

The AIADMK supported the government and voted against the no-confidence motion, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said.

The union minister then went on to say, “As I told you, we got support from parties outside the NDA. The AIADMK supported us.”

AIADMK’s BJP Support

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami had earlier hinted at not supporting the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government, saying the motion was moved by the TDP over an issue concerning Andhra Pradesh.

No party had backed Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery issue when AIADMK lawmakers had stalled the Lok Sabha for nearly three weeks seeking the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC), he said.

You should understand. They (TDP) have moved the no-confidence motion for a problem concerning Andhra Pradesh. When AIADMK MPs from Tamil Nadu stalled Parliament (during the previous session), who did voice (support) for us, who came forward to solve the problems of Cauvery delta farmers?

K Palaniswami, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

Stalin Asks AIADMK to Support Motion

However, before the trust vote DMK working president MK Stalin, meanwhile, urged the ruling AIADMK which has as many as 37 MPs in the Lok Sabha, to support the no-confidence motion, saying the move is expected to be a “turning point” in Parliamentary democracy.

Stalin, seeking the support of his party’s arch rival, alleged that the Centre “trashed” Tamil Nadu Assembly resolutions and cited the Union government not clearing two Bills envisaging exemption from NEET for the State.

The AIADMK is the third-largest party in the Lok Sabha after the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress.

The BJP and the PMK have one MP each from Tamil Nadu, which has a total of 39 parliamentary constituencies.

Palaniswami said it was only his party MPs, “on behalf” of the state government, who had raised the issue of CMB and CWRC during the Budget session of Parliament to “ensure our rights”.

“None stood by us then. So when it comes to their state, they are raising an issue. Did they support us when it came to our state's problem?" he asked.

Incidentally on Monday, 16 July a visiting delegation of the TDP claimed Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam declined to meet them despite giving appointment, a charge denied by the Chief Minister's Office.

The delegation, led by party MP C M Ramesh, had met DMK MP Kanimozhi as part of their efforts to garner support for their no-confidence motion.

Ramesh had alleged that the AIADMK acted as per the directions of the BJP, although Palaniswami's office had said no such appointments were scheduled for the chief minister that day.

(With inputs from PTI)