The motion expressing confidence in the Kumaraswamygovernment was adopted by voice vote in the presence of JD (S)-Congress coalition MLAs and other lawmakers supporting the government. Ahead of the floor test in Karnataka assembly, senior BJP BJP leader Suresh Kumar today withdrew nomination for the Speaker's post. Congress's Ramesh Kumar's was elected unanimously as the next Speaker. For the second time in a row, the BJP has gone on a back-foot. Earlier, was BS Yeddyurappa resigning as CM, as BJP could not fetch the requisite numbers to prove majority on the floor of the House.
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- Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has moved the motion of confidence in the state assembly.
- Kumaraswamy will face a floor test today which he is widely expected to sail through, barring any unforeseeable events, ending the 10-day political uncertainty in the state.
- Ahead of this, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara made a surprising comment on the formation of the government and said we have not yet discussed those modalities for a full five-year term. Speaking to reporters, he said,"we are also yet to decide on what portfolios have to go to them and what should be with us, then five years term - whether they should be or we should also ... all those modalities we have still not discussed." When asked again whether Congress was okay with giving chief minister's post to JD(S) for full a five year term, Parameshwara, also the KPCC chief, said " ... after discussing ... looking at the pros and cons (we will decide), our main intention is to give good administration."
The 58-year-old CM Kumaraswamy, who was sworn in at a grand assembly of leaders of non-BJP parties, looks sitting pretty given the strength of the JD(S)-Congress-BSP coalition in the House.
While the Congress has 78 MLAs, Kumaraswamy's JD(S) has 36, and BSP 1. The alliance has also claimed support of the lone KPJP MLA and an independent. Kumaraswamy had won from two constituencies.
BJP's B S Yeddyurappa, who was sworn in as the chief minister on May 17, had stepped down two days later in the face of imminent defeat without going through the motions of a floor test.
The 224-member Assembly has an effective strength of 221, as election for Jayanagar seat was countermanded following the death of the BJP candidate, and deferred in R R Nagar over allegations of electoral malpractices.
After taking oath, Kumaraswamy had voiced confidence about winning the floor test, but said he had an apprehension that the BJP would try to repeat "Operation Kamala" to bring down his government.
(with input from agencies)