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Amma's man forgot to vote!

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam parliamentary party leader Sedapatti Muthiah Saturday forgot to cast his vote on the confidence motion in the Lok Sabha, Opposition sources said.

Muthiah, excited by the margin of seven votes in favour of the combined opposition, kept the voting slip in his pocket by mistake.

The Opposition lost two more votes due to the absence of Rashtriya Janata Dal member Malati Devi and Communist Party of India member from Manipur Kim Gangte. Malati Devi is abroad for treatment.

Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati was the most sought after person since morning. Speculation was rife that her party had reversed its decision to abstain. Reporters thronged the main entrance of the Parliament House waiting for her arrival. As she entered the main gate, she smilingly disarmed the correspondents saying ''there is no change.''

While she was inside the Lok Sabha, several leaders, including Bhajan Lal and Buta Singh, tried to talk to her. The entire Opposition protested when Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Kumaramangalam attempted to convince her to support the government.

National Conference member Saifuddin Soz was also seen in an animated discussion with her.

Mayawati, who chose to attack the Congress virulently Friday night and announce that her party would abstain, ultimately voted against the government.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee spoke to her just minutes before the voting. Senior Congress leader Arjun Singh said his party president Sonia Gandhi too had a telephone conversation with the BSP leader.

The House witnessed an interesting incident soon after the voting: arch rivals Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Prasad Yadav and former union minister Ram Vilas Paswan hugged each other at Vajpayee's fall.

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