The Telugu Desam Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party, both of which support the ruling National Democratic Alliance at the Centre from outside, have decided to vote against the no-confidence motion to be moved by the opposition on Monday.

This was stated by Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson V K Malhotra who said this would take the NDA's strength to 323, without the help of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham. It is not yet clear whether the AIADMK will vote against the motion.

Briefing mediapersons after a hour-long meeting of the constituents, NDA convener George Fernandes said the NDA has decided to not only to defend its government but also attack the opposition on various issues during the discussion on the no-confidence motion to be taken up on Monday.

Fernandes, who is in the eye of the storm over the CVC report issue, said he would participate in the debate on the no-confidence motion on Monday. Asked whether he considered himself guilty of being responsible for the no-confidence motion, he asked, "What crime have I committed?"

NDA MPS would meet on Monday ahead of the debate. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will intervene in the discussion on Tuesday. He did not rule out seeking the AIADMK's support and insisted there would be no conflict with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham on this matter.

Efforts are also being made to bring MDMK leader Vaiko, a Lok Sabha member, to Delhi for the debate, Fernandes said. Vaiko is currently under detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in Tamil Nadu.

BJP and its allies have issued whips to their members to be present in the House and vote for the ruling coalition, Fernandes said.

The meeting was attended among others by Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, T R Baalu (DMK), B K Tripathi (BJD), Ajay Chautala (INLD), S S Dhindsa (Akali Dal) and Chandrakant Khaire (Shiv Sena), Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Meanwhile, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who has given the notice for a no-confidence motion against the Vajpayee government, also held consultations with senior party leaders to finalise strategy.

Arjun Singh, Shivraj Patil, Ambika Soni, Buta Singh, Ahmed Patel, Priyaranjan Dasmunshi and S Jaipal Reddy were among those who attended the meeting.

In Indore, Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar announced that his party would vote in favour of the no-confidence motion brought by the Congress on the issue of the government denying the Central Vigilance Commission report to the Public Accounts Committee. He told reporters that the opposition should have unity on issues of national importance.

No-trust motion against NDA govt: Complete Coverage