New Delhi: A nervous UPA today struggled hard to conjure up 271 for government survival in Tuesday's trust vote as the Congress put up a brave front ruling out Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's resignation, claiming he will sail through comfortably.

Seeking to scotch speculation that Singh may have to step down before the July 22 vote of confidence in Lok Sabha if the UPA fell short of a simple majority, Congress spokesman M Veerappa Moily said, "the question does not arise as he will win the trust vote comfortably". But several UPA leaders conceded in private that it will be a "close call". Besides not knowing which way certain small groups and independents will vote, the UPA is also worried about ensuring that its flock stays together and there is no cross voting. 

As suspense mounted in the run-up to voting, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi met party MPs at her 10, Janpath residence, and asked them to put up a united face to ensure Government's victory in the trial of strength. Congress Haryana MP Arvind Sharma, who attacked the party and praised Mayawati, giving enough hints that he will be moving towards BSP, did not turn up for the meeting. Kuldeep Bishnoi, another rebel Congress MP was also conspicuous by his absence. But Atma Singh Gill, a dalit MP who was being wooed by the BSP, came out in open support of Gandhi and the government.

Moily said Congress has information that some MPs from Shiv Sena, Akali Dal and BJP would abstain but declined to name them. There was intense speculation that some of the five JMM MPs would support the government but the party chief Shibu Soren, who is being wooed by both the ruling UPA and opposition NDA, kept his cards close to his chest. Soren is reportedly insisting on his induction into the cabinet for extending his party's support. The NDA has reportedly offered Jharkhand chief ministership to him.

However, JMM chief whip and Giridih MP Teklal Mahto said, "we are with the UPA. All the party MPs would vote in favour of the government." Mahto's statement assumes significance in wake of the fortnight-long suspense being maintained by the party over the issue." In the numbers game, the ruling UPA still appeared to be short of a dozen MPs for simple majority in the Lok Sabha which has an effective strength of 541 and was heavily banking on small groups like the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), National Conference and JD(S) but mixed signals were emanating from the Deve Gowda-led party. Gowda is expected to make known his party's stand after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who had a telephonic talk with him yesterday.

Source : PTI