1999 No-confidence Motion: How Atal Bihari Vajpayee's NDA lost by 1 seat

no-confidence motion in year 1999 which brought down National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee by just one vote may still give Narendra Modi government sleepless nights. Even with former PM losing confidence of Lok Sabha by just one vote, BJP with numbers on its side believes that debate in Lok Sabha on Friday will be a virtual launch p for its campaign for general elections and may help it get support from parties outside ruling NDA.

Re | No Confidence Motion Vote LIVE UPDATES: Narendra Modi-led NDA Government Faces Friday Numbers Test In Monsoon Session Of Parliament As Opposition Seeks To Deal Embarrassment

tense morning of April 17, 1999, began with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) promising former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that its leers will support his government. voting began at around 10:45 am tension and buzz in parliament was palpable.

Moments later House was called to order and debate started to wind up. It was time for Mayawati to speak, with tension gripping hearts of every NDA leer, BSP chief stood up and said that she would be opposing government. 

AIMK front led by chief minister J Jayalalitha walked out on NDA and enforced upon a no-confidence motion. reafter Vajpayee became only PM who lost motion twice and having to lose one with smallest margin.

final nail was hit by Saifuddin Soz who resisted his party, National Conference. n Orissa Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang also pressed 'no button'. While Gamang held his post for only a few months, he was yet to resign from Lower House and used his power to vote against Vajpayee Government.

Gamang was however hesitant to take credit for his act but Soz showed no inhibition, he rar saw himself as cause or person who brought down "communal" government.

OR ASPECTS OF 1999 NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION

1999 NDA government's chief troubleshooter Pramod Mahajan tried very hard to chase down every vote that was on offer, however, highly polarised House me it very difficult to get numbers.  Peasants and Workers Party of India's (PWP) Ramesh Thakur resisted all persuasion all managers of government. It was neck to neck on till morning that day, but Mahajan lost a number of votes in turn of events.

MOOD IN PM'S OFFICE

mood in Prime Minister's office after major defeat was predictably glum. Some BJP supporters and leers tried to corner Mahajan and blame him for defeat. For many, unlucky government which was always at mercy of 'fickle' AIMK chief J Jayalalitha h met a much-awaited end.

As soon as one vote difference showed up on screen re was a minute of stunned silence before opposition broke into celebrations and loud cheerings. vajpayee raised his hand in a mock salute on seeing screen. Moments later Vijaya Raje Scindia, mor of Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje broke down in PM's office while Vajpayee tried to comfort her.