Ready to face No-Confidence Motion: Congress

Congress on Saturday downplayed Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's plans to bring in a No-Confidence Motion against the government, saying it was ready for a floor test as it has a majority in Lok Sabha.

"Congress is ready to face a No-Confidence Motion. We have majority," party spokesperson Rashid Alvi told reporters soon after Banerjee, who had parted ways with United Progressive Alliance in September over the issue of Foreign Direct Invesment in retail and other issues, said her party will bring a No-Confidence Motion on the first day of the winter session.

At the same time, Alvi suggested that the Trinamool would not be able to bring such a motion without the support of "communal forces", a reference to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

"Every party is within its right to bring any motion under Parliamentary rules. If Banerjee wants to bring in a No-Confidence Motion, we have nothing to say. But at least 50 Members of Parliament are required to bring such a motion. It is a different matter if somebody brings it by joining hands with communal forces," he said.

He stressed that the government enjoyed majority and the Lok Sabha elections will be held on time in 2014.

In response to a question on Manmohan Singh inviting Bharatiya Janata Party leaders for dinner on Saturday night ahead of the winter session of Parliament -- which has now been cancelled in view of Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray's death -- Alvi said the prime minister wants to build consensus on all issues.

"We have tried to build consensus on FDI because we think it is in the interest of the nation," he said.