New Delhi: The predictions made by veteran BJP leader and former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee about 22 years ago about Congress are coming true today. In fact, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government fell by a minority by a single vote in 1999, he was ridiculed by opposition parties in the Lok Sabha. Then, addressing the Congress in the Lok Sabha, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had said to the Opposition, especially the Congress, "Today, when we have fewer members, you are laughing at us, but there will be a time when we will have a government and people will laugh at you.

He said this when he announced a letter of resignation after the government fell by one vote. As soon as he announced his resignation, the tables were patted by opposition members. Vajpayee's 'timeless' speech is still remembered by the people. Congress MP Girdhar Gomang had then voted in the Lok Sabha even as CM of Odisha (then Orissa) and the same vote proved decisive to topple Atalji's government. Gomang had become CM two months before the no-confidence motion. He was required to join the Assembly or Legislative Council in Odisha within six months. But even after becoming a CM, he was a Lok Sabha MP at that time.

At that time, one vote each was of great importance to the Government and the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The then CM of Odisha also joined the no-confidence motion as a Lok Sabha MP. Farooq Abdullah's party National Conference (NC) was also part of the BJP-led coalition NDA. But NC MP Saifuddin Soz had voted in violation of the party whip. Soz's vote was also crucial in toppling Vajpayee's government. When the entire opposition, especially the Congress, was laughing at Atalji when the government collapsed, Atalji had said that one-day lotus would bloom all over the country. Today, his prophecy has come true. The situation is that today the opposition has collapsed and other opposition leaders like Akhilesh-Mamata, Lalu are also not giving any sense to the Congress. While the BJP is sitting in central power with an absolute majority twice.

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