Bansi wins trust vote

CHANDIGARH, JUNE 25: The minority Bansi Lal Government tonight survived a trial of strength in the Haryana Assembly by a comfortable margin of 22 votes over the Opposition.

The ruling Haryana Vikas Party HVP got 55 votes for the confidence motion moved by Chief Minister Bansi Lal after the 12-member Congress party declared its support to the government to keep the BJP-Chautala combine out of power.Nine of the ten Independents in a House with an effective strength 89 also voted for the motion. The break-up of 33 Opposition votes comprised 22 of the INLD and 10 of the BJP whose withdrawal of support to the government forced the Governor to direct the chief minister to prove his majority in the House.

Earlier, the Congress issued a whip asking its 12 MLAs to support the motion. The Congress stand was made clear by veteran Congress leader Birender Singh.