Election in India?

[Harry Hayfield]

Maybe. The various communist parties have withdrawn their support for the Congress Party government over a deal with the United States to establish civilian nuclear plants (arguing that it opens India up too much to US influence). The Congress Party may well remain in power by calling upon various regional parties that were previously neutral, but this makes their position in government much more tenuous; the government will be 46 seats short of a majority.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7494795.stm

I do hope so, I get NDTV 24x7 (New Delhi Television) and they know how to do an election programme (all in English as well). Exit Polls, Battleground Seats and even a VR map of India where seats that change hands literally spin from their old to new colours.

[Harry Hayfield]

The leaders of India's coalition say they will seek a parliamentary vote of confidence on 22 July.

[Harry Hayfield]

(Data from Star News and NDTV 24x7)

Current Projection of Votes
YES: Congress + Allies = 274
NO: BJP + Allies = 268
Abstain: Various Inds = 4

However, at 4.04pm local time (11.34am BST / 6.34am EDT / 3.34am PDT), the BJP benches erupted in shouts of "SHAME" as a bag of money was opened and the contents thrown onto the table that seperates the Government and Opposition Benches. The speaker ordered the sitting to be suspended and outside the leader of the BJP alleged that 3 of their MP's had been bribed Rs 1 crore (10 million rupees = $250,000) to abstain in the vote with the promise of another Rs 2 crore (20 million rupees = $500,000) if the vote went the way of the Government. The vote is due to take place at 6.00pm local time (1.30pm BST / 8.30am EDT / 5.30am PDT)

[Harry Hayfield]

The PM is just about to wind the debate up and the vote will now take place at 6.30pm local time (2.00pm BST / 9.00am EDT / 6.00am PDT)

Update: Parliament has been audjourned until 6.30pm local time (2.00pm BST) with a vote due at 7.15pm local time (2.45pm BST)

[Harry Hayfield]

The vote is due to take place in a few moments. According to NDTV's estimates, the tallies are:

YES 272
NO 264
Abstain 3
Government majority of 8

[Harry Hayfield]

The Indian Parliament uses electronic voting and the votes were:

AYES 253
NOES 232
Abstain 2
Total 487 (out of 540)
Aye Majority of 21

The remaining 54 MP's are voting using postal ballots.