India government wins confidence vote by a wide margin

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government was backed by 246 lawmakers in the 545-strong lower house. The opposition managed 162 votes against.

The vote was the first of the many demanded on Tuesday demanded by parties against an unpopular hike in fuel and fertiliser prices which they said hurt the poor, but which the government deems necessary to cut its fiscal deficit from a 16-year high of 6.9 percent.

The strong govenrment showing may boost efforts to pass key bills. Financial markets have largely ignored the parliamentary row, anticipating no threat to the government.

Outside parliament, the communists and their allies shut down shops, offices, trains and airports in several states as they tried to enforce a dawn-to-dusk strike protesting inflation that is running at a 17-month high of 9.9 percent.

The strong govenrment showing may boost efforts to pass key bills. Financial markets have largely ignored the parliamentary row, anticipating no threat to the government.

In the run-up to the vote, the government appeared shakey and defered crucial legislation, with two allies withdrawing support over a bill to reserve legislative seats for women and others expressed disquiet over issues like high prices; Kazinform cites The Arab News.

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