Amid Tug-Of-War, Fate Of Karnataka Govt Likely To Be Decided Today

The fate of Karnataka government is likely to be decided today as a floor test will be held in the Karnataka assembly.

PTI

Bengaluru: The fate of Karnataka’s Congress-JDS government is likely to be decided on Monday with a trust vote in the assembly. Convincing the rebel MLAs to secure the future of its fragile government, Chief Minister Kumaraswamy appealed the rebels to return and “expose” the BJP during the debate in the house; the request was however declined as the MLAs refused to attend the session. Karnataka BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa exuded confidence that "tomorrow will be the last day of the Kumaraswamy government" and said the chief minister was just trying to buy time.

Bengaluru: BJP MLAs leave from Ramada Hotel for Vidhana Soudha; H D Kumaraswamy government will face floor test in the Assembly today.https://t.co/jCWmDmDLsr pic.twitter.com/uFRrAca2mq

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Two independent MLAs to move SC:   After the voting on confidence motion did not take place despite two deadlines on July 19 set by Governor Vajubhai Vala, two Independent MLAs, who withdrew support to the Congress-JD(S) government, are going to move the Supreme Court seeking a direction for conducting a floor test forthwith in the state Assembly, their lawyer said. In their petition, which is likely to be mentioned on Monday, MLAs R Shankar and H Nagesh, have sought a direction to the H D Kumaraswamy government to hold the floor test on or before 5 pm on July 22, senior advocate Mukul Rohatagi, said. Amid reports that the government was still trying to prolong the discussion on the confidence motion to delay the floor test in a hope of some kind of relief from the Supreme Court, Kumaraswamy on Sunday said he was not trying to cling onto power.

Kumaraswamy moved SC against Governor:

Kumaraswamy and the Congress had moved the Supreme Court on Friday, accusing the Governor of interfering with the Assembly proceedings when the debate on the trust vote was underway and sought clarification on its July 17 order, which they said, caused hindrance in issuing whip to the legislators. Kumaraswamy on Sunday mounted a scathing attack on BJP, accusing it of touching a new low by its "immoral politics". "It is a matter of immense pain and disgust that the BJP has not only taken Karnataka's political scenario to a new low, but also touched a new low in the country for immoral politics. The BJP has made a mockery of democracy by taking away several MLAs from ruling coalition forcefully," he said in the statement. "Amidst all these developments, which are a result of sole ambition to capture power through immoral and illegal ways, the BJP has been demanding I must resign immediately and has even got the Raj Bhavan to set deadlines for putting the confidence motion into vote," the chief minister said.

Current statistics of Karnataka assembly:

As many as 16 MLAs - 13 from the Congress and three from JDS- had resigned, while independent MLAs R Shankar and H Nagesh have withdrawn their support to the coalition government, putting the government to the precipice. One Congress member Ramalinga Reddy retracted, saying he would support the government. The ruling combined strength is 117- Congress 78, JD(S) 37, BSP 1, and nominated 1, besides the Speaker. With the support of the two independents, the opposition BJP has 107 MLAs in the 225-member House, including the nominated MLA and Speaker. If the resignations of 15 MLAs (12 from Congress and three from JDS) are accepted or if they stay away, the ruling coalition’s tally will plummet to 101, (excluding the Speaker) reducing the government to a minority. BJP's strength is also likely to come down to 106, as Shankar who has extended support to the saffron party will not attend the session, according to sources.