India's Congress party-led government is leading a vote of confidence over a civilian nuclear deal with the United States, with most votes counted.
The vote came after the government's left-wing allies withdrew their support in protest at the controversial accord.
The government motion has received 253 votes with 232 against, but about 50 votes are still being counted.
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Most MPs cast their votes electronically, using buttons on their desks. That gave the government its lead.
Television pictures showed government MPs congratulating Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in parliament and opposition leaders looking gloomy.
However, it then emerged that more than 50 votes still have to be counted as those MPs are voting on paper slips. The opposition would need to win 39 of those votes to topple the government.
It is not clear why all the MPs did not vote electronically.
Two days of debate ended in uproar amid opposition allegations of vote buying.
Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members waved fistfuls of money in the air, alleging that they had been offered bribes to abstain.
Speaker Somnath Chatterjee adjourned proceedings for several hours. He called it a "very sad day" for the Indian parliament, adding: "Nobody will be spared if found guilty."
Tight vote
Under the accord, India, which has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, would gain access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel.
In return its civilian nuclear facilities would be opened to inspection. Nuclear weapons sites would remain off-limits.
The communists fear the accord could give the US too much influence over Indian foreign and nuclear policy.
The main opposition Hindu nationalist BJP fears that the deal could compromise India's ability to test nuclear weapons in the future.
With the left withdrawing support, the government could rely on only 226 members in the 543-seat parliament, and needed 46 more to be absolutely sure of a majority.
Congress has 153 MPs. The BJP has 130.
The Congress party hoped to get the backing of the regional Samajwadi party and other smaller parties to help it win.
India's media was awash with reports of alleged defections and desertions among MPs ahead of the vote.
India is under pressure from Washington to sign the accord before the US presidential election in November.
Last week, Indian officials met members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the world nuclear regulatory body, in Vienna to discuss plans to safeguard India's civilian nuclear facilities.
The IAEA's approval of the plan is a key condition for enacting the deal.
If the IAEA signs the agreement, the deal will go to the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which regulates global civilian nuclear trade, for approval.
It must then be approved by the US Congress before President Bush can sign it into law.
Critics of the deal fear assistance to India's civil programme could free-up additional radioactive material for bomb-making purposes.
(BBC)
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