New Delhi: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on August 18 asserted that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would definitely emerge "victorious" in the Opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion against his government but wondered why Congress and other parties had thrown up this challenge so late.

Addressing "about" 300 MPs belonging to NDA and its supporting parties in the Central Hall of Parliament, he said the coalition "will fight out the challenge even though it was assured of a victory".

The debate on the motion will begin on August 18 in the Lok Sabha and Vajpayee will intervene in the discussion on August 19 before it is put to vote. Leader of the Opposition, Sonia Gandhi, will reply to the discussion on August 19, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesman V K Malhotra told reporters.

PTI