As the discussion on the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha progressed into its first afternoon, the lack of a coherent focus was visible as Trinamul Congress leader Mamta Banerjee took the floor.

Complete coverage of the no-confidence debate

Her speech focused more on the 'Communist atrocities' in West Bengal and issues such as population. She said the issues regarding defence matters would be defended by George Fernandes and kept coming back to criticising her Communist opponents from West Bengal.

She said the non-confidence motion had no "mission or vision" and so she was opposing it. She said the National Democratic Alliance has proved that a coalition government could provide a stable government through its last four years.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee would be remembered for several developmental works, especially the nation-wide highway link coming up as part of the Golden Quadrilateral, she said. 

"This side (NDA) is able and stable but the opposition is totally divided. They cannot even chose a leader as their prime ministerial candidate to take the nation forward," she said.

She told the Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi not to insist with her to join the Congress-led coalition as long the Communists remain with her.

Admitting there were differences of opinion among the National Democratic Alliance members, Banerjee said the coalition, however, is here to stay.