A Congress-sponsored no-confidence motion against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government was on Monday admitted in the Lok Sabha.

Leader of the Opposition Sonia moved the motion amid thumping of desks by opposition benches.

The motion read: "This House expresses its want of confidence in the Council of Ministers."

Immediately after Gandhi moved the motion, Speaker Manohar Joshi asked members supporting it to stand and later said more than 50 members from the opposition favoured it as required under the rules.

He admitted the motion thereafter.

The voting will follow intervention by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and reply by Gandhi.

Shortly before Gandhi moved the motion, her daughter Priyanka accompanied by senior party leader K Natwar Singh entered the distinguished visitors' gallery to watch the proceedings.

A number of senior party leaders from the Rajya Sabha, including Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ambika Soni, were also present in various special galleries.

The speaker asked the members to maintain decorum and discipline, as the entire country would be watching the debate on Doordarshan.

Lunch hour for two days has been dispensed with, he said, adding a total of 12 hours have been allotted for the debate.

The No-confidence Motion: The Complete Coverage