Govt will win trust vote: Chidambaram

Chennai, July 9: As the Congress-led UPA braced itself for the vote of confidence in Parliament following the Left's withdrawal of support, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday expressed confidence that the government will win the trust vote in the Lok Sabha and ruled out early polls.

"We strongly believe we have the support. Elections will be held as per schedule, i.e, by April or May 2009," he said ruling out early polls.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a foundation stone laying ceremony of the Indian Bank in Chennai, Chidambaram said he was "still confident of the Left parties supporting the government on the agenda" (of the Common Minimum Programme) but did not elaborate.

Chidambaram dismissed as ‘hypothetical’ a question on whether early elections would hinder efforts to curb the growing inflation, which has now reached 11.63 percent.