Today is an important day in our Parliamentary democracy. I am sure my fellow MP colleagues will rise to the occasi… https://t.co/arei2Ys5S4 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 1532052417000

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the first no-confidence motion against his government on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted early morning to say it "is an important day in our Parliamentary democracy", and that he hopes there's "constructive" debate because "India will be watching us closely."Referring obliquely to the last few Parliamentary sessions, which were dominated by disruptions, unruly behaviour and walk-outs, PM Modi hoped Friday wouldn't end up like that.Monsoon Session of Parliament live updates"I'm sure my fellow MP colleagues will rise to the occasion and ensure constructive, comprehensive and disruption free debate. We owe this to the people and the makers of our Constitution," he said in his tweet.The no-trust vote , moved by former NDA ally the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and supported by many, though not all, in the opposition, will be debated and voted on, on Friday in the Lok Sabha (LS). On Wednesday, LS speaker Sumitra Mahajan allowed the no-trust move to be introduced, taking the opposition by surprise, because in the last Parliamentary session, several attempts made by the opposition to introduce a similar motion were resisted by the speaker.On Friday, the opposition is expected to lambast the BJP-led NDA government on several issues , especially lynchings and cow vigilantism, farm distress and what it calls growing polarisation in the country due to the BJP.The government will attack the opposition, mainly the Congress, for what it says are opportunistic alliances and for "doublespeak" on issues like triple talaq and corruption. And like the opposition will, the government too is expected to accuse opponents of polarisation and communal mobilisation.Both Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi are expected to participate in the debate. The BJP expects the PM's intervention toward the end of the day-long debate, when he will highlight the performance of his government so far.Congress sources said their president will make a forceful intervention accusing the PM of being unable to deliver on his government's promises, mismanaging the economy and promoting majoritarian politics.In terms of numbers, the BJP-led NDA - on paper - should be able to defeat the no-confidence motion with ease. There are 533 seats in the Lok Sabha. The magic number both sides will be looking for is 268.The BJP-led NDA has 313 members (including the Speaker), and they include 274 from the BJP, 18 from the Shiv Sena, six from the Ram Vilas Paswan-led LJP and four from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).The Shiv Sena is keeping everyone guessing which way it will go. Vocal BJP dissenter Shatrughan Sinha said on Thursday he will vote against the motion, that is, he will vote for the BJP. It's unclear how other dissenters like Kirti Azad and Savitri Bai Phule will vote.The opposition parties expected to vote for the no-trust moved against the government - including the Congress, TMC, NCP, SP and CPM - have 172 seats.Abstentions will help bring the halfway mark - 268 - down and increase the margin of BJP's victory.