Karnataka political crisis seems to be in an unending spiral as the House Speaker adjourns the house till July 22.
The BJP has been demanding the completion of the floor test while the ruling coalition is delaying the process.
K'taka LIVE: Stalemate continues, house adjourned till July 22
THUMB
20:59 July 19
Assembly adjourned till July 22
20:00 July 19
Will wait till late night to ensure trust vote happens today: BSY
BJP state President BSY claims that legislators will sit peacefully (sit on dharna) till the trust vote proceedings conclude.
The ruling JD(S)- Congress coalition is delaying the trust vote seeking clarification over the Supreme Court's interim order granting exemption of party whip applying to the rebel MLAs.
Meanwhile, the Congress also claimed that SC order diluted power of political party to issue a whip.
19:43 July 19
No MLA has written to me asking for protection: Speaker KR Ramesh
Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh claims that no MLA has written to him seeking protection.
"I Want to inform the Supreme Court, people and the House that no MLA has given me letter seeking protection and I don't know if they've written to the government," he said.
" If they have informed any member that they have stayed away from House for security reasons then they're misleading people," he added.
17:33 July 19
Kumaraswamy moves SC
HDK reads out the court order and challenges governor's intervention in the matter
H D Kumaraswamy has moved the Supreme Court and challenged the Governor's letter, which had asked him to complete the trust vote within a specified deadline.
16:43 July 19
Second love letter hurt me: HDK on Guv's letter
HDK shows photos to support horse-trading allegation
"I have respect for the Governor. But the second love letter from the Governor has hurt me," says HDK.
"I leave the decision on the floor test to the Speaker. It won't be directed by Delhi. I request you to protect me from the letter sent by the Governor," HDK added.
Besides, Kumaraswamy brings up photos of BS Yeddyurappa's PA Santosh, reportedly boarding a plane with independent MLA H Nagesh, establishing the horse-trading allegations levelled against the BJP.
16:12 July 19
Governor gives new deadline to Kumaraswamy to prove majority
"I am receiving various reports about the attempts being made for horse-trading. This can be averted only ond only if the exercise of conducting the floot test is conducted at the earliest and without any delay. This was the reason why I have required you to prove your majoirty on the floor of the house by 1:30 PM," the letter read.
"In view of the above facts and antecedent circumstances which covey a very sorry state of affairs. I hereby require conclusion of the process of floor test today iteself," the letter read, giving HDK the deadline of 6PM.
15:48 July 19
Gundu Rao moves SC, wants clarity on whip issue
KPCC chief Dinesh Gundu Rao moved the Supreme Court, seeking clarity on the issue of court’s exemption of party whip applying to the rebel MLAs. He also claimed that SC order diluted power of political party to issue a whip, theryby violating the 10th schedule of the Indian constitution.
15:17 July 19
BJP moves Privilege Motion against JD(S) MLA
"Kolar MLA Srinivas Gowda (JDS) alleged in the Assembly that he was offered Rs 5 crore by BJP. We are moving a breach of privilege motion against him," said state BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa.
14:12 July 19
BJP leaders to file defamation suit against Gowda
According to reports, Ashwath Narayan, CP Yogeshwar, and SR Vishwanath - the three BJP leaders named by JD(S) MLA Srinivasa Gowda, will file a defamation suit against him. In the ongoing discussion on the trust vote in the Assembly, Gowda had claimed that the three BJP leaders offered him Rs 5 crore to switch sides.
13:43 July 19
House adjourned till 3 pm
Ruckus ensued as the deadline ended
With the trust vote not being completed within the deadline set by the Governor, ruckus ensued in the Assembly as the BJP members pressed for a divison of votes. Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar then adjourned the House till 3 pm after the ruckus.
13:37 July 19
Guv's deadline ends, no signs of trust vote yet
Even as the Governor's deadline of 1:30 pm passed, there were no visible signs of a trust vote. While BJP members pressed for division of votes, the Speaker said that it is not possible till discussion ends.
13:26 July 19
Not kidnapped by BJP: Patil
Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar reads out an email from MLA Shrimant Patil, who clarifies that he was not kidnapped by the BJP. Patil, in his email, said he moved to a hospital in Mumbai to consult his family doctor. He also said that he will not be able to attend the rest of the ongoing session.
13:10 July 19
Can Guv give me a deadline?: Kumaraswamy asks Speaker
"The Governor has set a deadline for me at 1:30 pm to prove my majority. I will leave it to your (Speaker) discretion to decide whether the governor can issue such direction," Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said.
"There needs to be a debate about how constitutional provisions are being circumvented. Can it be completed in such short time," he added.
Kumaraswamy also cited a Supreme Court verdict that the Governor cannot act as ombudsman of Legislature.
12:28 July 19
BJP offered me Rs 5 cr to switch sides, says JD(S) MLA
Gowda levelled a huge allegation
Levelling a huge allegation against the BJP, JD(S) MLA Srinivas Gowda said that leaders from the saffron party approached him and offered him Rs 5 crore to switch sides. Congress members demanded a probe on the Kolar legislator's allegation.
12:02 July 19
Form the govt, but only after discussion: CM tells BJP
Addressing the House, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said, "After 14 months, we have come to the final stage. I had got an offer from somebody, and I was approached by Congress leaders. If I wanted to hold on to the chair I'd have done so long ago."
"I had no clue about becoming CM. I have no fears about losing this seat. My family is not behind power, I am not hungry of Power. Now you (BJP) are happy, but the same situation will come to you also."
"The question isn’t if Kumaraswamy will be chief minister or Yeddyurappa. Ever since this government was formed, the BJP kept claiming that it was unstable. From day one, they tried to topple it. They do not want to debate, but it is important. Please occupy this seat, but only after discussion. There is no hurry in forming the government, you can form it today or on Monday,” he added.
11:40 July 19
Today will be the end of Cong-JD(S) govt: BSY
Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa predicted the end of the coalition government and said his party will decide on the future course of action after consulting the national leadership. "Mostly today will be the end of Congress-JDS government's misrule... the Chief Minister will make his farewell speech today, we will patiently hear it," Yeddyurappa told reporters in Bengaluru before the Assembly Session commenced.
11:18 July 19
Will take a non partisan decision: Speaker
"Those who hurl slurs at my character, look back at what your life has been. Anyone who knows me knows I don't have lakhs of money stashed up like others. I have enough strength to take a non partisan decision despite such slurs," said Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar.
11:14 July 19
Assembly proceedings begin
Assembly proceeding commenced in the Vidhana Soudha with Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar allowing CM Kumaraswamy to discuss the trust vote.
11:07 July 19
Congress likely to move SC
Congress MP Nasir Hussain said, "I think the Congress party will go to Supreme Court because Governor cannot interfere in the matter of Speaker, he has no right to do it. Governor is arbitrarily interfering and trying to work as agent of a party."
10:37 July 19
Karnataka Police arrive in Mumbai to question Patil
Karnataka Police accompanied by Mumbai Police arriveed at the St George Hospital in Mumbai, where Karnataka Congress MLA Shrimant Patil is admitted. Pertinently, Patil had gone 'missing' from Bengaluru on Wednesday night, following which he was admitted to a hospital in Mumbai.
09:50 July 19
BJP MLAs to meet Yeddyurappa before session
Karnataka BJP MLAs will hold a meeting with State BJP President BS Yeddyurappa before the commencement of today's Assembly session.
09:14 July 19
Dy CM, BJP MLA have breakfast together
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara was seen having breakfast with BJP MLA Suresh Kumar at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. "They (BJP MLAs) were on an over night dharna at Vidhana Soudha. It's our duty to arrange food and other things for them. Some of them have diabetes and BP, that's why we arranged everything here. Beyond politics, we're friends, it's the beauty of democracy," Parameshwara said.
08:14 July 19
BJP MLAs go out for morning walk
MLAs were camping in the Vidhana Soudha
The Karnataka BJP legislators, who stayed overnight at the Assembly, were seen going out for a morning walk. They were on an over night 'dharna' at Vidhana Soudha over their demand of floor test. Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala has written to the CM, asking him to prove majority of the government on the floor of the House by 1:30 pm today.
03:34 July 19
BJP leaders sleep in Karnataka Assembly
The BJP leaders are protesting against the unnecessary delay of Vote of Confidence by CM Kumaraswamy and coalition government.
02:53 July 19
BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa sleeps at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru
BS Yeddyurappa sleeps at the Vidhana Soudha
BS Yeddyurappa said that his party members would stay in the House overnight. "We will stay until the trust vote is decided," he said.
02:39 July 19
BJP MLA's call it a day at Vidhan Soudha
BJP legislators on an over night 'dharna' at the Vidhana Soudha over their demand of floor test
02:37 July 19
Governor writes letter to HDK
"I have received a letter from few practicing advocates that since the ruling coalition government has lost its majority, suitable action in accordance with law needs to be taken," the letter read.
02:34 July 19
Floor test: BJP legislator arrives in Vidhan Soudha with sheets and pillow
With the impending floor test on July 19, BJP MLA Prabhu Chavan arrives at Vidhana Soudha with bed sheet and pillow. BJP legislators are on an over night 'dharna' (at Assembly) demanding the completion of trust vote proceedings.
02:24 July 19
Prove majority by 1:30 PM tomorrow, Guv writes to HDK
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala wrote the letter to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, asking him prove majority of the Government on the floor of the house by 1:30 pm tomorrow.
00:21 July 19
Karnataka LIVE: Prove majority by 6 pm today, Guv tells CM
Bengaluru: Marked by high drama, the Karnataka assembly was adjourned till Friday after it took up the confidence motion moved by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy with Governor Vajubhai Vala asking him to prove his majority by 1.30 pm Friday.
Shortly after the assembly rocked by bedlam was adjourned, Vala shot off a letter to Kumaraswamy, saying resignation of 15 ruling combine MLAs and withdrawal of support by two independents "prima facie" indicated he has lost the confidence of the House.
The Governor's direction to the CM came after his message to the Speaker to conclude the trust vote process by the end of Thursday was not heeded to and the House was adjourned after barely focusing on the debate on the motion through the day.
"I request you to prove your majority on the floor of the House on or before 1:30 PM tomorrow (Friday)," Vala said in his letter to Kumaraswamy.
Earlier, the assembly witnessed three adjournments, acrimony and repeated disruptions by belligerent slogan shouting Congress members after the motion was moved by Kumaraswamy to decide the fate of the Congress-JDS government wracked by rebellion by a section of its MLAs threatening its survival.
BJP alleged the ruling coalition was deliberately prolonging the trust vote to buy time to shore up its numbers and save the government.
The drama unfolded right from the word go as, facing truncated strength caused by the en masse resignation of 16 ruling coalition MLAs, Kumaraswamy moved a one-line motion, saying the House expressed confidence in the 14-month old ministry headed by him.
Twenty lawmakers did not turn up Thursday, including 17 from the ruling coalition, 12 of whom are corralled in a hotel in Mumbai, as the House debated in a surcharged atmosphere.
Before it was adjourned, BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa declared his party members would stay put in the House itself overnight and even till the time the trust vote was decided.
"We will stay until the trust vote is decided," Yeddyurappa said after the BJP, exasperated over the delay in taking up the voting, also rushed a delegation to the Governor to ask the Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar to conclude the trust vote process by the end of the day itself.
Acting swiftly, Vala asked the speaker to complete the process of vote of confidence moved by the end of the day.
BJP leaders said they were mulling moving the Supreme Court in the light of Thursday's developments.
Sending a stern message, the Governor in his letter to Kumaraswamy said "In my capacity as the Head of the State I had not intervened on the matter having regard to the fact that the House was called and Trust vote has been moved.
"However, it has been reported to me that the proceedings of the House today for vote of confidence has been stalled and consequently adjourned without reaching any finality, and this cannot go on in a democratic set up governed by the Constitution of India, he said.
Adding to the worries of the ruling coalition, another Congress MLA Shreemant Patil was not seen in the House, in the midst of reports he has been admitted in a Mumbai hospital.
At one point, Congress members carrying pictures of Patil rushed towards the well of the House shouting slogans "Down Down BJP" and "down down operation Kamala (lotus)" to bring down the government.
BSP MLA Mahesh, on whose support the coalition was counting, also did not show up, amid reports he was keeping away as he has not received any directions from the party leader Mayawati on the stand to be taken on the trust vote.
Seeking the trust vote, Kumaraswamy said the rebel MLAs had cast doubts about the coalition government across the country and "we have to tell the truth."
"The entire nation is watching the developments unfolding in Karnataka," he said.
As soon as the motion was moved, Yeddyurappa stood up and said the trust vote process should be completed in a single day.
"The Leader of Opposition seems to be in a hurry," Kumaraswamy taunted Yeddyurappa.
As the chief minister sought the trust vote, Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah pressed for deferring the confidence motion till the assembly speaker decided on the issue of whip in the wake of the Supreme Court verdict on the political crisis in the state.
Siddaramaiah said the 15 rebel MLAs were influenced by the apex court order that they can abstain from attending the assembly proceedings and asked speaker to give a ruling on the fate of whip issued by him as CLP leader.
"If this motion is taken up, then it will not be constitutional. It violates the constitutional provisions. I request you to defer it. I want your ruling on this point of order," he told the Speaker.
The speaker then said he would consult the advocate general and adjourned the House for lunch.
With the chief minister yet to make his speech on the motion, the House went about discussing the issue of the whip, amid acrimony between the treasury benches and BJP members on the political turmoil in the state.
Sensing an alleged attempt to delay the vote, BJP rushed a delegation to meet the governor to direct the speaker to conclude the trust vote process Thursday itself.
In his message to the speaker, Vala said the chief minister was expected to maintain the confidence of the House at all times during his tenure. "I, therefore, send this message to the House to consider completing the proceedings of the House by the end of the day."
Vala's message under Article 175 of the constitution added completing the proceedings by the end of the day will uphold the highest traditions of democracy and parliamentary practice.
The speaker read out the message and said "I have brought it to the notice of the House."
The House also was rocked by trading of charges after the Congress alleged its MLA Shreemant Patil, who suddenly disappeared after being with them at a resort and went incommunicado, had been 'kidnapped' as part of efforts to 'topple' the coalition government.
Senior minister D K Shivakumar said they would produce documents to show that Patil was forcibly admitted to the hospital to skip assembly.
The speaker then directed Home Minister M B Patil to contact the family of the MLA and report back to him.
However, Patil, in a video message on a social networking site later, said no one had kidnapped him.
He said he had developed chest pain due to which he was admitted at a hospital in Mumbai where he had gone for some "personal work."
Congress and BJP MLAs, who were sequestered in resorts in the city fearing poaching by the rival camps, were herded together and brought in buses just before the assembly proceedings began.
The trial of strength is taking place a day after the Supreme Court ruled that the 15 rebel Congress-JDS MLAs "ought not" to be compelled to participate in the proceedings of the ongoing session of the state Assembly.
Armed with the court order, the rebel Congress-JDS MLAs camping in Mumbai have said there was no question of stepping back on their resignations or attending the session.
The ruling combine's 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 3 from JDS) are accepted or if they abstain, the ruling coalition's tally will plummet to 101, (excluding the Speaker) reducing the Kumaraswamy government to a minority.
This is the third motion on trust vote in the assembly after the 2018 assembly polls yielded a fractured mandate with the BJP emerging as the single largest party with 104 seats but failing to mobilise numbers.
Yeddyurappa had resigned as CM after being in office for three days before facing the trust vote in May last year.
Kumaraswamy who succeeded him had won the trust vote after forming the coalition government.
20:59 July 19
Assembly adjourned till July 22
Karnataka political crisis seems to be in an unending spiral as the House Speaker adjourns the house till July 22.
The BJP has been demanding the completion of the floor test while the ruling coalition is delaying the process.
20:00 July 19
Will wait till late night to ensure trust vote happens today: BSY
BJP state President BSY claims that legislators will sit peacefully (sit on dharna) till the trust vote proceedings conclude.
The ruling JD(S)- Congress coalition is delaying the trust vote seeking clarification over the Supreme Court's interim order granting exemption of party whip applying to the rebel MLAs.
Meanwhile, the Congress also claimed that SC order diluted power of political party to issue a whip.
19:43 July 19
No MLA has written to me asking for protection: Speaker KR Ramesh
Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh claims that no MLA has written to him seeking protection.
"I Want to inform the Supreme Court, people and the House that no MLA has given me letter seeking protection and I don't know if they've written to the government," he said.
" If they have informed any member that they have stayed away from House for security reasons then they're misleading people," he added.
17:33 July 19
Kumaraswamy moves SC
HDK reads out the court order and challenges governor's intervention in the matter
H D Kumaraswamy has moved the Supreme Court and challenged the Governor's letter, which had asked him to complete the trust vote within a specified deadline.
16:43 July 19
Second love letter hurt me: HDK on Guv's letter
HDK shows photos to support horse-trading allegation
"I have respect for the Governor. But the second love letter from the Governor has hurt me," says HDK.
"I leave the decision on the floor test to the Speaker. It won't be directed by Delhi. I request you to protect me from the letter sent by the Governor," HDK added.
Besides, Kumaraswamy brings up photos of BS Yeddyurappa's PA Santosh, reportedly boarding a plane with independent MLA H Nagesh, establishing the horse-trading allegations levelled against the BJP.
16:12 July 19
Governor gives new deadline to Kumaraswamy to prove majority
"I am receiving various reports about the attempts being made for horse-trading. This can be averted only ond only if the exercise of conducting the floot test is conducted at the earliest and without any delay. This was the reason why I have required you to prove your majoirty on the floor of the house by 1:30 PM," the letter read.
"In view of the above facts and antecedent circumstances which covey a very sorry state of affairs. I hereby require conclusion of the process of floor test today iteself," the letter read, giving HDK the deadline of 6PM.
15:48 July 19
Gundu Rao moves SC, wants clarity on whip issue
KPCC chief Dinesh Gundu Rao moved the Supreme Court, seeking clarity on the issue of court’s exemption of party whip applying to the rebel MLAs. He also claimed that SC order diluted power of political party to issue a whip, theryby violating the 10th schedule of the Indian constitution.
15:17 July 19
BJP moves Privilege Motion against JD(S) MLA
"Kolar MLA Srinivas Gowda (JDS) alleged in the Assembly that he was offered Rs 5 crore by BJP. We are moving a breach of privilege motion against him," said state BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa.
14:12 July 19
BJP leaders to file defamation suit against Gowda
According to reports, Ashwath Narayan, CP Yogeshwar, and SR Vishwanath - the three BJP leaders named by JD(S) MLA Srinivasa Gowda, will file a defamation suit against him. In the ongoing discussion on the trust vote in the Assembly, Gowda had claimed that the three BJP leaders offered him Rs 5 crore to switch sides.
13:43 July 19
House adjourned till 3 pm
Ruckus ensued as the deadline ended
With the trust vote not being completed within the deadline set by the Governor, ruckus ensued in the Assembly as the BJP members pressed for a divison of votes. Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar then adjourned the House till 3 pm after the ruckus.
13:37 July 19
Guv's deadline ends, no signs of trust vote yet
Even as the Governor's deadline of 1:30 pm passed, there were no visible signs of a trust vote. While BJP members pressed for division of votes, the Speaker said that it is not possible till discussion ends.
13:26 July 19
Not kidnapped by BJP: Patil
Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar reads out an email from MLA Shrimant Patil, who clarifies that he was not kidnapped by the BJP. Patil, in his email, said he moved to a hospital in Mumbai to consult his family doctor. He also said that he will not be able to attend the rest of the ongoing session.
13:10 July 19
Can Guv give me a deadline?: Kumaraswamy asks Speaker
"The Governor has set a deadline for me at 1:30 pm to prove my majority. I will leave it to your (Speaker) discretion to decide whether the governor can issue such direction," Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said.
"There needs to be a debate about how constitutional provisions are being circumvented. Can it be completed in such short time," he added.
Kumaraswamy also cited a Supreme Court verdict that the Governor cannot act as ombudsman of Legislature.
12:28 July 19
BJP offered me Rs 5 cr to switch sides, says JD(S) MLA
Gowda levelled a huge allegation
Levelling a huge allegation against the BJP, JD(S) MLA Srinivas Gowda said that leaders from the saffron party approached him and offered him Rs 5 crore to switch sides. Congress members demanded a probe on the Kolar legislator's allegation.
12:02 July 19
Form the govt, but only after discussion: CM tells BJP
Addressing the House, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said, "After 14 months, we have come to the final stage. I had got an offer from somebody, and I was approached by Congress leaders. If I wanted to hold on to the chair I'd have done so long ago."
"I had no clue about becoming CM. I have no fears about losing this seat. My family is not behind power, I am not hungry of Power. Now you (BJP) are happy, but the same situation will come to you also."
"The question isn’t if Kumaraswamy will be chief minister or Yeddyurappa. Ever since this government was formed, the BJP kept claiming that it was unstable. From day one, they tried to topple it. They do not want to debate, but it is important. Please occupy this seat, but only after discussion. There is no hurry in forming the government, you can form it today or on Monday,” he added.
11:40 July 19
Today will be the end of Cong-JD(S) govt: BSY
Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa predicted the end of the coalition government and said his party will decide on the future course of action after consulting the national leadership. "Mostly today will be the end of Congress-JDS government's misrule... the Chief Minister will make his farewell speech today, we will patiently hear it," Yeddyurappa told reporters in Bengaluru before the Assembly Session commenced.
11:18 July 19
Will take a non partisan decision: Speaker
"Those who hurl slurs at my character, look back at what your life has been. Anyone who knows me knows I don't have lakhs of money stashed up like others. I have enough strength to take a non partisan decision despite such slurs," said Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar.
11:14 July 19
Assembly proceedings begin
Assembly proceeding commenced in the Vidhana Soudha with Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar allowing CM Kumaraswamy to discuss the trust vote.
11:07 July 19
Congress likely to move SC
Congress MP Nasir Hussain said, "I think the Congress party will go to Supreme Court because Governor cannot interfere in the matter of Speaker, he has no right to do it. Governor is arbitrarily interfering and trying to work as agent of a party."
10:37 July 19
Karnataka Police arrive in Mumbai to question Patil
Karnataka Police accompanied by Mumbai Police arriveed at the St George Hospital in Mumbai, where Karnataka Congress MLA Shrimant Patil is admitted. Pertinently, Patil had gone 'missing' from Bengaluru on Wednesday night, following which he was admitted to a hospital in Mumbai.
09:50 July 19
BJP MLAs to meet Yeddyurappa before session
Karnataka BJP MLAs will hold a meeting with State BJP President BS Yeddyurappa before the commencement of today's Assembly session.
09:14 July 19
Dy CM, BJP MLA have breakfast together
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara was seen having breakfast with BJP MLA Suresh Kumar at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. "They (BJP MLAs) were on an over night dharna at Vidhana Soudha. It's our duty to arrange food and other things for them. Some of them have diabetes and BP, that's why we arranged everything here. Beyond politics, we're friends, it's the beauty of democracy," Parameshwara said.
08:14 July 19
BJP MLAs go out for morning walk
MLAs were camping in the Vidhana Soudha
The Karnataka BJP legislators, who stayed overnight at the Assembly, were seen going out for a morning walk. They were on an over night 'dharna' at Vidhana Soudha over their demand of floor test. Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala has written to the CM, asking him to prove majority of the government on the floor of the House by 1:30 pm today.
03:34 July 19
BJP leaders sleep in Karnataka Assembly
The BJP leaders are protesting against the unnecessary delay of Vote of Confidence by CM Kumaraswamy and coalition government.
02:53 July 19
BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa sleeps at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru
BS Yeddyurappa sleeps at the Vidhana Soudha
BS Yeddyurappa said that his party members would stay in the House overnight. "We will stay until the trust vote is decided," he said.
02:39 July 19
BJP MLA's call it a day at Vidhan Soudha
BJP legislators on an over night 'dharna' at the Vidhana Soudha over their demand of floor test
02:37 July 19
Governor writes letter to HDK
"I have received a letter from few practicing advocates that since the ruling coalition government has lost its majority, suitable action in accordance with law needs to be taken," the letter read.
02:34 July 19
Floor test: BJP legislator arrives in Vidhan Soudha with sheets and pillow
With the impending floor test on July 19, BJP MLA Prabhu Chavan arrives at Vidhana Soudha with bed sheet and pillow. BJP legislators are on an over night 'dharna' (at Assembly) demanding the completion of trust vote proceedings.
02:24 July 19
Prove majority by 1:30 PM tomorrow, Guv writes to HDK
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala wrote the letter to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, asking him prove majority of the Government on the floor of the house by 1:30 pm tomorrow.
00:21 July 19
Karnataka LIVE: Prove majority by 6 pm today, Guv tells CM
Bengaluru: Marked by high drama, the Karnataka assembly was adjourned till Friday after it took up the confidence motion moved by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy with Governor Vajubhai Vala asking him to prove his majority by 1.30 pm Friday.
Shortly after the assembly rocked by bedlam was adjourned, Vala shot off a letter to Kumaraswamy, saying resignation of 15 ruling combine MLAs and withdrawal of support by two independents "prima facie" indicated he has lost the confidence of the House.
The Governor's direction to the CM came after his message to the Speaker to conclude the trust vote process by the end of Thursday was not heeded to and the House was adjourned after barely focusing on the debate on the motion through the day.
"I request you to prove your majority on the floor of the House on or before 1:30 PM tomorrow (Friday)," Vala said in his letter to Kumaraswamy.
Earlier, the assembly witnessed three adjournments, acrimony and repeated disruptions by belligerent slogan shouting Congress members after the motion was moved by Kumaraswamy to decide the fate of the Congress-JDS government wracked by rebellion by a section of its MLAs threatening its survival.
BJP alleged the ruling coalition was deliberately prolonging the trust vote to buy time to shore up its numbers and save the government.
The drama unfolded right from the word go as, facing truncated strength caused by the en masse resignation of 16 ruling coalition MLAs, Kumaraswamy moved a one-line motion, saying the House expressed confidence in the 14-month old ministry headed by him.
Twenty lawmakers did not turn up Thursday, including 17 from the ruling coalition, 12 of whom are corralled in a hotel in Mumbai, as the House debated in a surcharged atmosphere.
Before it was adjourned, BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa declared his party members would stay put in the House itself overnight and even till the time the trust vote was decided.
"We will stay until the trust vote is decided," Yeddyurappa said after the BJP, exasperated over the delay in taking up the voting, also rushed a delegation to the Governor to ask the Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar to conclude the trust vote process by the end of the day itself.
Acting swiftly, Vala asked the speaker to complete the process of vote of confidence moved by the end of the day.
BJP leaders said they were mulling moving the Supreme Court in the light of Thursday's developments.
Sending a stern message, the Governor in his letter to Kumaraswamy said "In my capacity as the Head of the State I had not intervened on the matter having regard to the fact that the House was called and Trust vote has been moved.
"However, it has been reported to me that the proceedings of the House today for vote of confidence has been stalled and consequently adjourned without reaching any finality, and this cannot go on in a democratic set up governed by the Constitution of India, he said.
Adding to the worries of the ruling coalition, another Congress MLA Shreemant Patil was not seen in the House, in the midst of reports he has been admitted in a Mumbai hospital.
At one point, Congress members carrying pictures of Patil rushed towards the well of the House shouting slogans "Down Down BJP" and "down down operation Kamala (lotus)" to bring down the government.
BSP MLA Mahesh, on whose support the coalition was counting, also did not show up, amid reports he was keeping away as he has not received any directions from the party leader Mayawati on the stand to be taken on the trust vote.
Seeking the trust vote, Kumaraswamy said the rebel MLAs had cast doubts about the coalition government across the country and "we have to tell the truth."
"The entire nation is watching the developments unfolding in Karnataka," he said.
As soon as the motion was moved, Yeddyurappa stood up and said the trust vote process should be completed in a single day.
"The Leader of Opposition seems to be in a hurry," Kumaraswamy taunted Yeddyurappa.
As the chief minister sought the trust vote, Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah pressed for deferring the confidence motion till the assembly speaker decided on the issue of whip in the wake of the Supreme Court verdict on the political crisis in the state.
Siddaramaiah said the 15 rebel MLAs were influenced by the apex court order that they can abstain from attending the assembly proceedings and asked speaker to give a ruling on the fate of whip issued by him as CLP leader.
"If this motion is taken up, then it will not be constitutional. It violates the constitutional provisions. I request you to defer it. I want your ruling on this point of order," he told the Speaker.
The speaker then said he would consult the advocate general and adjourned the House for lunch.
With the chief minister yet to make his speech on the motion, the House went about discussing the issue of the whip, amid acrimony between the treasury benches and BJP members on the political turmoil in the state.
Sensing an alleged attempt to delay the vote, BJP rushed a delegation to meet the governor to direct the speaker to conclude the trust vote process Thursday itself.
In his message to the speaker, Vala said the chief minister was expected to maintain the confidence of the House at all times during his tenure. "I, therefore, send this message to the House to consider completing the proceedings of the House by the end of the day."
Vala's message under Article 175 of the constitution added completing the proceedings by the end of the day will uphold the highest traditions of democracy and parliamentary practice.
The speaker read out the message and said "I have brought it to the notice of the House."
The House also was rocked by trading of charges after the Congress alleged its MLA Shreemant Patil, who suddenly disappeared after being with them at a resort and went incommunicado, had been 'kidnapped' as part of efforts to 'topple' the coalition government.
Senior minister D K Shivakumar said they would produce documents to show that Patil was forcibly admitted to the hospital to skip assembly.
The speaker then directed Home Minister M B Patil to contact the family of the MLA and report back to him.
However, Patil, in a video message on a social networking site later, said no one had kidnapped him.
He said he had developed chest pain due to which he was admitted at a hospital in Mumbai where he had gone for some "personal work."
Congress and BJP MLAs, who were sequestered in resorts in the city fearing poaching by the rival camps, were herded together and brought in buses just before the assembly proceedings began.
The trial of strength is taking place a day after the Supreme Court ruled that the 15 rebel Congress-JDS MLAs "ought not" to be compelled to participate in the proceedings of the ongoing session of the state Assembly.
Armed with the court order, the rebel Congress-JDS MLAs camping in Mumbai have said there was no question of stepping back on their resignations or attending the session.
The ruling combine's 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 3 from JDS) are accepted or if they abstain, the ruling coalition's tally will plummet to 101, (excluding the Speaker) reducing the Kumaraswamy government to a minority.
This is the third motion on trust vote in the assembly after the 2018 assembly polls yielded a fractured mandate with the BJP emerging as the single largest party with 104 seats but failing to mobilise numbers.
Yeddyurappa had resigned as CM after being in office for three days before facing the trust vote in May last year.
Kumaraswamy who succeeded him had won the trust vote after forming the coalition government.
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Last Updated : Jul 20, 2019, 4:40 AM IST
