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

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.

Mumbai: Disgruntled lawmakers from the ruling coalition in Karnataka have claimed that they are not held at gunpoint and will not attend the trust vote session in the assembly on July 22.

According to the video statement released by the MLAs, they claim to have stayed in the resort at their own will, until the political dilemma in the state reaches a conclusion.

In a video message, rebel Congress MLA from Yeswanthpur ST Somashekhar claimed they are not being threatened by anyone nor are they being influenced by a stash of money.

"We are all healthy, we are here voluntarily," MLA said, in a response to queries of their well-being in the assembly during the trust vote discussions.

"We have came out against the government to protect democracy. We have taken this decision with the intention of doing good to the people," rebel JD(S) MLA H Vishwanath said.

Congress MLA Byrathi Basavaraj further claimed that MLAs will return to the state capital and hold a news conference, once confidence motion procedures conclude in the assembly.

Various Congress-JD(S) leaders have raised the issue of threat to their life and had accused the BJP of indulging in horse-trading.

Meanwhile, the BJP state President BS Yeddyurappa had said, government is delaying the trust vote as they do not have the required numbers to stay in power.

The 13-month-old Congress-JDS government slumped into a minority earlier this month following the resignation of several dissident MLAs.

Sixteen MLAs from the ruling coalition including thirteen Congress and three JD(S) MLAs have resigned.

The state Assembly has 225 members, including one nominated MLA. The halfway mark in the 225-member Assembly is 113.

Read: K'taka LIVE: Stalemate continues, house adjourned till July 22