Earlier, Dr Singh asserted that his government will win the vote of confidence. Arriving at Parliament House, an uncharacteristically animated prime minister waived at the waiting news camerapersons and indicated a 'V' sign before entering his office there.

"We will prove our majority on the floor of the House," he told journalists before he was whisked away by personnel from the Special Protection Group.

                                                                 Coverage: An Alliance in Crisis

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee [Images] arrived ten minutes later, but refused to talk to the waiting journalists.

However, Shiv Sena leader and former speaker Manohar Joshi said that Somnath Chatterjee should not hold on to the Speaker's office. "After all, an individual rises in stature due to his party. He could play a crucial role, in case of a tie," Joshi said.

Railway minister Lalu Yadav expressed confidence that the United Progressive Alliance would win the trust vote. He added that a privilege motion would be brought against A B Bardhan for making allegations that Members of Parliament have been 'bought' to win the trust vote.

Union Petroleum minister Murali Deora, who is allegedly being targeted by Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh [Images], also flashed the victory sign.

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This will be the first time that Dr Singh will be moving a confidence motion in the House since the Congress-led coalition came to power in 2004.