K'taka floor test: Two independent MLAs move SC

The 13-month-old Congress-JDS government slumped into a minority earlier this month following the resignation of several dissident MLAs. The final vote on confidence motion is expected to take place on July 22.

New Delhi:Two independent Karnataka MLAs on Sunday moved the Supreme Court seeking a direction to conclude a floor test in the state Assembly on Monday before 5 pm.

Legislators H Nagesh and R Shankar have made Karnataka Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, and the Central government as the respondents in their petition.

The petition has sought the enforcement of their fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, which the petitioners allege are being "violated with impunity."

The petitioners have submitted that a minority government, which does not have the confidence of the majority, is being allowed to continue in office.

"The intention of the government is to delay the trust vote and indulge in horse-trading and defections from the BJP in the meanwhile," the plea submitted.

The Congress-JDS government slumped into a minority earlier this month following the resignations of 16 dissident MLAs from the cabinet.

Read: Won't attend final vote on confidence motion: K'taka rebel MLAs