An attempt by former UPA ally Trinamul Congress to bring a no-confidence motion against the government over FDI in retail failed today in the Lok Sabha for want of requisite numbers.
Mamata Banerjee's party moved the motion as soon as Parliament met for the Winter Session but Speaker Meira Kumar disallowed it as it could not muster the required support of 50 members.
The motion, first in the current Lok Sabha, was moved by Trinamul Congress parliamentary party leader Sudip Bandopadhyay and was supported by the BJD.
However, it lacked the support of the required 50 members as only Trinamul’s 18 members and BJD's three members supported.
Moving the motion, Bandopadhyay said, "This House expresses want of confidence in the Council of Ministers over its decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail as it is going to harm millions of small businesses."
The Speaker asked all those supporting the motion to stand up. Amidst chants of "shame shame" from Congress benches, Trinamul members stood up and there was a verbal clash too.
On seeing the lack of adequate support, the Speaker said, "The motion does not have the leave of the House."