Chennai, Aug 18: Contrary to reports, AIADMK today decided to abstain from voting on the Congress-sponsored no confidence motion against the Vajpayee ministry in the Lok Sabha saying BJP had not sought its backing nor was there any threat to the government. Announcing the decision after the party's executive meeting here, AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa told reporters that the party MPs would also not participate in the debate.
She said nobody had sought the party's support and "we will not offer our support on our own to any. Moreover there is no threat to the Vajpayee ministry and there is no need for our support," she said.
She said the Union Defence Minister and NDA convenor George Fernandes called her house on Saturday but could not speak to her as she was away. "I do not know for what he had contacted me," she said.
Asked whether her party's decision to abstain from the debate and voting was influenced by the DMK's decision to support the government, she said, "No. You must ask the DMK why there was a delay in their decision," she said. Bureau Report