The Vijay Bahuguna government in Uttarakhand won the vote of confidence on Thursday, even as the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party walked out seeking a secret ballot.
The government secured 39 votes in its favour, with no votes against, in the House of 70 — Congress 31, one Anglo-Indian member, three from the Bahujan Samaj Party, one from the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal ( P) and three independents.
The 40th member is the Speaker, a Congress MLA, who remained neutral.
The confidence motion won, Mr. Bahuguna requested the Speaker to arrange a headcount to prove his majority.
Pandemonium broke out when it became clear that the “test” would be by a voice vote and not a secret ballot as sought by the BJP. The BJP members opposed the move and raised slogans in support of the secret ballot before walking out.
