Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced on August 18 that the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) would abstain from voting on the Opposition sponsored no- confidence motion in the Lok Sabha against the Vajpayee government. The party would also not participate in the debate.

Jayalalithaa, after a meeting of party's executive, told reporters that nobody from the Centre contacted her so far and the party would not offer support to the government on its own.

Moreover, the government was not in danger and hence the party decided to abstain from voting and from participating in the debate on the motion.

She said the Union Defence Minister George Fernandes, two days ago, had attempted to contact her but she was not available.

"I do not know for what he had attempted to contact me," she added.

PTI