The Karnataka Congress- Janata Dal (Secular) government survived another after delaying the vote on motion of confidence, which was moved by the Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Thursday.
The house stands adjourned until Monday, the 22nd July 2019.
The house failed to vote on the trust motion defying the speakers deadline of 1:30 pm. In a fresh letter, the Governor revised the deadline to 6pm.
The governor wrote: “When the allegations of horse-trading are widely made and I am receiving many such complaints, it is constitutionally imperative that the floor test be completed without any delay and today itself.”
However, as the clock passed 8pm, Congress and JD(S) lawmakers urged the Speaker Ramesh Kumar to adjourn the house.
Meanwhile, the government petitioned the Supreme Court seeking a clarification over interim order that allows rebel lawmakers to defy whip.
BJP’s tallest leader in the state, BS Yeddyurappa after the house was adjourned said: “We are dealing with this peacefully. They don’t have the majority and they are not letting the one with the majority to also rule. We are 106 and so they are postponing. They are trying to horse trade, but it’s not happening.”
During a long speech in the Assembly Kumaraswamy accused the opposition BJP of offering “40-50 crore” rupees to switch sides. He went on to warn the BJP of Judgement Day : “The only consolation is that there is coming a day when all will give an account of their lives to God.”
The ruling government alleged that the governor was acting under pressure of BJP leaders. And for a brief moment, Congress and JDS lawmakers raised slogans such as “Go Back” and “BJP Agent” for the Governor.
The ruling coalition had 118 members in the 224-member assembly 13 months ago. Now, with 15 resignations the government was left with 101 members. The BJP on the other hand along with two independents, have 107 legislators.