New Delhi: The Congress was on Thursday "relieved" after BSP supremo Mayawati announced that her 15 MPs would support the government in the motion on FDI in multi-brand retail but kept its fingers crossed and continued efforts to muster support ahead of the crucial vote on Friday.

The UPA government lacks majority in the upper house, with its numbers below the halfway mark of 123 in the 244-member house. But the Samajwadi Party's (SP) nine members will walk out or abstain from voting, thus effective strength of members present and voting would come down to 235, pulling down the halfway mark to 118.

"We are relieved (after Mayawati's announcement) but we will keep trying to garner support till the vote is over," said a senior Congress leader, who did not wish to be named.

The UPA strength is 89 and would climb to 104 with the addition of Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) 15 members. If the strength of parties supporting the government from outside like Rashtriya Janata Dal (2), Lok Janashakti Party, Nagaland People's Front, Bodoland People's Front and Sikkim Democratic Front (one each) is added, the UPA tally goes up to 110.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its main allies Janata Dal-United, Shiv Sena, and Shiromani Akali Dal together have 65 votes. If the 14 members of the Left parties and nine of Trinamool Congress are added, the count of votes against foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail will be 88.

Parties like Biju Janata Dal (7), Asom Gana Parishad (2), AIADMK (5), and Telugu Desam Party (5) will further take the opposition tally up to 107 -- just three short of the government tally of 110.

Congress managers claimed most of the seven Independent MPs will support the government. Even if four of them vote in support, the UPA tally will be 114, they said.

Out of the 10 nominated members, three including cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, actress Rekha and Congress leader Murli Deora may not be present due to personal reasons, said the sources.

If the remaining seven nominated MPs go with the government, the UPA tally will be 121, just 2 short of the half-way mark of the total house strength, sources said.

However, they said the picture would become clear only on the floor of the house, adding that winning the vote is going to be a close fight.

The motion is being debated under rules 167-168, which entail voting.

Read: BSP will vote in favour of FDI in Rajya Sabha, says Mayawati Watch: BSP to vote in favour of FDI l UPA a lame duck govt: Jaitley