Harish Rawat all but made a victory speech saying, "I thank supporters, all lawmakers, the Supreme Court and the people of Uttarakhand. The clouds of uncertainty will blow over tomorrow."

Congress sources claimed Mr Rawat has won the trust vote with the support of 33 lawmakers, two more than he needed for majority. With nine Congress rebels barred from voting, the strength of the 70-member assembly was 61.

In what appeared to confirm that Mr Rawat had won, a BJP lawmaker said the party was "ready to sit in the opposition." Sources said 28 lawmakers voted for the BJP in today's trust vote.

While Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati said this morning that her two legislators in Uttarakhand would support the Congress.

The Congress also reportedly had the support of three independent lawmakers and one from the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal together called the PDF (Progressive Democratic Front) along with the BSP. After the vote, a PDF lawmaker said, "All six of us have voted for Harish Rawat."

Congress legislator Rekha Arya, incommunicado for days, walked into the Assembly with the BJP's Ajay Bhatt this morning, signaling which way she would vote. But, a BJP rebel Bhim Lal Arya said he would vote for Harish Rawat, leveling the field again.

President's Rule was lifted in the state for a few hours for the trust vote; only the legislators who votes and observers appointed by the Supreme Court were allowed in.

Harish Rawat was chief minister of Uttarakhand till the Centre imposed President's Rule on March 27, arguing that he lost his majority when the nine Congress dissidents voted against his government's annual budget.

The Supreme Court confirmed a High Court order yesterday barring the nine Congress rebels from voting in today's trust vote; they had been disqualified by the Speaker a day before the Centre imposed President's Rule in Uttarakhand on March 27.