Karnataka political crisis: House adjourned without trust vote, BJP to protest inside Assembly

The much-awaited floor test in the Karnataka Assembly could not be conducted on Thursday due to a ruckus between the ruling Congress-JD-S and opposition BJP over the Governor's 'interference' in the House proceedings, an official said.

"Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar adjourned the House proceedings at 6 pm amid ruckus between the ruling and opposition members over a message by Governor Vajubhai Vala to the former (Kumar) to conduct the floor test by the end of the day," an official told IANS.

The Assembly will resume on Friday at 11 am, with the debate on the confidence motion Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy moved earlier in the day to prove that his coalition government has a majority in the House. 

Karnataka Assembly adjourned till 4.30 pm.

"There was hospital right next to resort where our MLAs are staying, then why was he (MLA Shrimant Patil) flown to Chennai & then to Mumbai for treatment? He is healthy, nothing is wrong with him. It's a conspiracy by BJP," said Karnataka Congress President Dinesh Gundu Rao in Assembly.

The Tenth Schedule, which was inserted in the Constitution by the Constitution (Fifty-Second Amendment) Act, 1985, popularly known as the "anti-defection law", provides for the disqualification of Members of Parliament and state legislatures who defect.

1) Byrathi Basavaraj
2) Munirathna
3) ST Somashekar
4) Ramesh Jarkiholi
5) Roshan Baig
6) Srimanth Patil
7) Anand Singh
8) B Nagendra
9) R Shankar
10) K Gopalaiah
11) Narayana Gowda
12) MTB Nagaraj
13) BC Patil
14) H Vishwanath
15) Mahesh Kumthahalli
16) Prathap Gouda Patil
17) Dr Sudhakar
18) Shivaram Hebbar
19) N Mahesh
20) Nagesh

"Till we get clarification on Supreme Court's previous order, it is not appropriate to take floor test in this session which is against the Constitution," said Siddaramaiah.

BS Yeddyurappa said that the trust vote should be taken up without delay as there is no need for prolonged discussion on the issue when the chief minister himself has admitted he does not have the desired support to remain in power.

Twenty MLAs are not present in the Assembly. These include 15 rebel MLAs, two Independents, two Congress MLAs and the lone BSP MLA. The strength of the House, thus, is 204. The new majority mark, as things stand, is 103. The BJP has 105 MLAs. All of the saffron party's MLAs are present, reported The News Minute.

"I want to raise a point of order. We need some clarification from you under Rule 351. The chief minister has already spoken about the 10th Schedule," said Siddaramaiah.

Congress Legislative Party leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah recounted an incident when an MLA had defected political parties thrice in a single day. He then spoke about Gandhian principles in a democracy, batting for reforms in politics of defections.

As Kumaraswamy moved the motion, BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa said that the trust vote process should be completed in a single day.

"I have self-respect and so do my ministers. How can I live with this and not discuss this? I have to make clarifications. Who is responsible for destabilising this government?" asked CM Kumaraswamy.

"My priority is development in Karnataka," said HDK.

Kumaraswamy said that most MLAs are happy with his government and he will prove the majority in the Assembly. He added that he has trust in the Speaker. "Our duty to follow the Constitution," said CM.

CM Kumaraswamy asked the BJP why do they want to finish the discussion today. "We have not yet discussed the reasons for which we have to face the trust vote. I will not speak about the court order but they have even raised doubts about you [Speaker]," said Kumaraswamy.

CM HD Kumaraswamy said during the trust vote discussion that his government has faced many challenged with the opposition trying to topple his government. "Have worked very hard during my term and this government is ready to face more challenges," he said. 

It would be in favour of Congress-JD(S) if the motion is not put to vote today. It was speculated that the alliance is banking on turning the two Independent MLAs who are in Bengaluru on their side. 

A discussion on the confidence motion will take place after which the Speaker will the motion to vote. 

The lone Bahujan Samaj Party MLA, N Mahesh, said he will abstain from participating in the floor test, reported Times of India. 

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundu Rao took to Twitter to call the SC verdict a "bad judgment".

"We are 101 per cent confident. They are less than 100, we are 105. There is no doubt that their motion will be defeated," said Yeddyurappa at Vidhana Soudha.

The coalition strength in the state is 116 (Congress-78, JD(S)-37 and the BSP-1), besides the Speaker. If the Speaker accepts the resignations of the 16 MLAs, the tally will reduce to 100, in the 224 member assembly.

According to India Today, Section 144 has been imposed around 2 km radius of the Vidhan Soudha ahead of the high-drama trust vote at 11 am today. 

Congress MLA Shrimant Balasaheb Patil went missing from the resort ahead of the trust vote in Karnataka assembly. He was last seen in the resort at around 8 pm, reported India Today. 

"Speaker has clarified that the members were bound to adhere to the rules of the Assembly and had to seek permission to remain absent," Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Krishna Byre Gowda was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

Hours before the floor test, Congress MLA Ramalinga Reddy on Wednesday said he has decided to withdraw his resignation from the Assembly and will vote in favour of the trust vote to be sought by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.