Karnataka political drama to end today as CM Kumaraswamy asked to face floor test by 6 pm

The ongoing Karantaka drama is likley to end today as the state Assembly Speaker, KR Ramesh Kumar, on Monday late night directed Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to face floor test on Tuesday by 6 pm to prove majority in the House, saying, "I am adjourning the House nearly at midnight to meet again on Tuesday at 10 a.m. for concluding the debate on the confidence motion by 4 p.m. and holding the floor test by 6 pm." 

The Speaker, who left the Assembly premises in a huff, was criticised by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members, who waited since morning for the crucial floor test. They protested against the Speaker for adjourning the session without the floor test that he had promised on Friday and throughout the day. 

Earlier, the Speaker had asked Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah how much more time the ruling allies would need to conclude the debate on the motion for the floor test. When the former Chief Minister said the ruling allies would complete the debate by 6 pm for the floor test by 8 pm on Tuesday, the Speaker advanced the trust vote by 6 pm and to end the debate by 4 p.m.

The Chief Minister, HD Kumaraswamy, had moved the confidence motion on July 18 to prove majority after the 14-month fledgling JD-S-Congress coalition government was reduced to minority following the resignation of 15 rebel legislators of the ruling combine and withdrawal of support by two Independents in the 225-member Assembly, including one nominated without voting right. Kumaraswamy had sought for two more days to face the floor test after his reply to the motion.

Notably, with the 15 rebels, including 12 of the Congress and 3 of the JD-S deciding not to attend the session and two Congress legislators (B. Nagendra and Srimant Patil) admitted in Bengaluru and Mumbai private hospitals, the strength of the allies in the House was 99 (65 out of 79 of the Congress plus 34 out of 37 of the JD-S), including the Speaker (from Congress) in the 225-member Assembly.

In the Karnataka Assembly, with 2 Independent MLAs, BJP, which has 105 legislators, will have 107 votes in its favour against the motion in the division of votes vis-a-vis 100 of the ruling combine, including N. Mahesh of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

(IANS Inputs)