The dissident MLAs who are seeking Patel's ouster also voted against the motion, falling in line with a truce reached in Delhi last week to end the factional feud in the party.

The Janata Dal was backed by independents and its allies including Karnataka Congress Legislature Party (Progressive), CPM, Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha, AIADMK (Tiruvanakarrasu), Karnataka Rajya raitha Sangha, BSP and RPI.

Chief Minister J H Patel later said he would win the trial of strength, if sought, in the Janata Dal Legislature Party (JDLP) meet scheduled for November 13.

A beaming Patel, reacting to queries by reporters who asked whether he would win the November13 battle, said, ``Certainly. I know my party. We won't let the people down''.

Patel, commenting on the house verdict on the no-confidence motion tabled against his minsitry, said he never expected any result other than its defeat.

However, the Chief Minister said he agreed with some of the criticisms made by the Opposition on various issues and assured them that he would initiate steps to rectify the lapses, if any.

Patel said today's defeat of the no-confidence motion had underlined the need for Janata Dal to work hard and unitedly to face the people in the coming assembly elections.

Asked whether the leadership change issue was before the JDLP agenda, he shot back, ``I have been repeatedly saying that issue has not been discussed at all''.

Patel dismissed a question whether the JDLP would adopt secret ballot to decide the leadership issue, saying the issue was not before the party now. The Janata Dal Central leadership has fixed the JDLP on November 13, as demaned by dissidents and partypresident Sharad Yadav would be present at the meeting.

Reeling out statistics, Patel said there was marked improvement in all spheres in the State, in all departments in terms of allocation of funds, utilisation of funds, number of buildings, power production and facilities to backward class compared to the earlier government.

``The Opposition should learn to give credit where it is due,'' he said. Patel denied the allegation that there was financial bankruptcy in the government. Even the Reserve Bank of India and Planning Commission have described Karnataka as the best financially managed state in the country. The World Bank too has certified that the Bangalore was financially the safest city in the country, he said.