The UPA Government on Friday got an indirect support from unexpected quarters - the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) - at the time of voting on FDI in retail in the Rajya Sabha.
During the debate in both the Houses of Parliament, the TDP had vociferously opposed FDI in retail.
The final tally came late on Friday after scrutiny of votes by the Rajya Sabha secretariat due to glitches in the automatic vote recording system. After the final tally, 19 members did not vote. Of the 19 members, nine of the Samajwadi Party had staged a walkout before the voting.
Of the five TDP MPs, three members - Devender Goud, T Gundu Sudharani and Y S Chowdhary - were absent.
Though both Sudharani and Y S Chowdhary were seen on Parliament premises till noon, they were not present in the Upper House at the time of voting.
The Opposition, though resigned to a defeat in the FDI vote after change in the BSP stance in the Upper House, could have fared much better but for some irritants.
For instance, out of the 5-member strong bloc of Telugu Desam MPs in the Rajya Sabha, only two voted against the government.
Similarly, JD(U) MP Basistha Narain Singh was not present due to his daughter’s wedding on December 7. Singh had duly informed the party brass of his prior engagement.