Meanwhile, the Karnataka Assembly reconvened on Tuesday at 10 am but the Congress and JDS MLAs did not arrive for the proceedings. The Speaker has set a fresh deadline of 6 pm Tuesday to complete the floor test. “Don’t make me a breaker of promises… It will not bring respect to the House or to me,” Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar said, reminding the H D Kumaraswamy-led government to honour their commitment to conclude the trust vote proceedings on Monday.
Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, however, changed track and requested the Speaker to postpone the vote till the Supreme Court clarifies its order on the issue of a whip to 15 rebel coalition MLAs who had resigned. The Speaker has also directed the rebel MLAs to appear before him at 11 am Tuesday to respond to a complaint of disqualification filed against them.
Amid the ongoing chaos in the Assembly by the BJP leaders, a letter, that appeared to be that of the resignation of Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy, surfaced on Monday and was circulated on social media spreading rumours of the chief minister putting down his papers.
However, terming it a "cheap level of publicity", Kumaraswamy said the letter was fake and his signature had been forged. "I got the information that I have tendered my resignation to the governor. I don't know who is waiting to become the CM. Someone has forged my signature and spread the same on social media. I'm shocked at the cheap level of publicity," news agency ANI quoted the CM as saying.
Read | BJP maintains a facade of distance, but its prints all over Karnataka row
Earlier in the day, Speaker K R Ramesh had expressed his discontent over wasting time in the name of discussion. "People are watching. In the name of discussion, if an opinion is created that we are wasting time, it won't be right on my part or anybody else's," he had said.
The confidence motion was moved on Thursday but the vote did not take place despite two deadlines set by Governor Vajubhai Vala.
Despite their numbers not adding up to a majority, members of the coalition have insisted that the government will win the trust vote. “We are confident that we will be able to save the government,” JD(S) MLA D C Gowrishankar said.
Karnataka BJP MLA Renukacharya dances with supporters outside the Ramada Hotel in Bengaluru. HD Kumaraswamy led Congress-JD(S) government lost trust vote in the assembly, today.
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The 15 rebel MLAs of the Congress and the JD(S) have sought four weeks' time to appear before speaker K R Ramesh Kumar in connection with the plea for their disqualification from the State Assembly. "Yes, we have sought four weeks' time from the speaker. We have approached the speaker through our advocate," Hunsur JD(S) MLA A H Vishwanath told PTI.
In their letter, whose contents are identical, the disgruntled MLAs, 13 of whom are camping in a Mumbai hotel, said a petition has been filed under Schedule-10 of the Constitution, by the party, seeking their disqualification. They added that they were not in receipt of the copy of the petition or the documents annexed to it. Stating they have learnt that their presence has been sought by Wednesday, the MLAs reminded the speaker that at least seven days time should be given to present their case. Read more...
Only three chief ministers — all from the Congress — have been able to complete their full five-year term in the history of Karnataka, which saw the H D Kumaraswamy-led coalition government losing the confidence motion in the Assembly on Tuesday after just 14 months in power. S Nijalingappa (1962-68), D Devaraja Urs (1972-77) and Siddaramaiah (2013-2018) were the chief ministers who had completed their full term. Read more...
Kumaraswamy thanked people of the state, cabinet colleagues, all legislators and officers for the cooperation and support during his 14-month tenure as chief minister.
BJP Karnataka President, BS Yeddyurappa said, "I will discuss with Prime Minister & our President Amit Shah ji, afterwards I will go & meet Governor. We are going to have a legislature party meet now." (ANI)
Former chief minister and BJP leader Yeddyurappa is likely to stake claim to form the government on Wednesday. The swearing-in is likely on July 25.
Congress party to hold nation-wide protests against the immoral, blatant and brazen political destabilization carried out by the Bharatiya Janata Party, said Congress' K C Venugopal.
Siddaramaiah said, "15-16 of our MLAs violated the whip by abstaining from the House during trust vote, thereby, it is a clear violation of Schedule 10 (of the Constitution) and attracts disqualification." (ANI)
Governor accepts Kumaraswamy's resignation from the chief minister's post. (ANI)
Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) MLA to Karnataka Assembly N Mahesh has been expelled from his party for allegedly not abiding by the directions of the party high commission to be present in the Karnatak Assembly during the trust vote, party chief Mayawati said Tuesday. She said not by not following the high commission's directions, he has flouted the norms of the party and hence has been expelled from the party with immediate effect.
"BJP facilitated this dirty-dealing political drama by offering a huge amount of black money and ministerial berths to the defected MLAs. Along with this, the BJP also misused central agencies like enforcement and income tax for blackmailing and horse-trading. BJP has carried out one of the biggest political subversion and hawala transaction to destabilise the coalition government in Karnataka," said AICC.
The subversion of the coalition government in Karnataka carried out by the BJP is one of the most heinous political horse tradings the country has ever witnessed, AICC General Secretary In-charge of Karnataka, K C Venugopal said in his statement. "The coalition government was subverted by the nefarious joint efforts of the Central government, governor, state government of Maharashtra and BJP leadership," he said.
Congress leader HK Patil said the coalition faced was because of betrayal of their party legislators. "This defeat is because of betrayal of our party legislators, we have come under the influence of various things... People of Karnataka will not tolerate this type of betrayal to the party," he said. (ANI)
After the coalition government lost the trust vote on Tuesday HD Kumaraswamy sought an appointment with Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala.
Yeddyurappa said it is a victory of democracy. "People were fed up with Kumaraswamy government. I want to assure people of Karnataka that a new era of development will start now," ANI quoted him as saying. "We assure the farmers that we will give more importance to them in the coming days. We will take an appropriate decision at the soonest," he added.
End of a corrupt and unholy alliance, tweets Karnataka BJP after qualifying the floor test.
BS Yeddyurappa and other BJP MLAs show victory sign after winning the trust vote. HD Kumaraswamy led Congress-JD(S) coalition government loses trust vote to BJP by securing 99 votes while BJP got 105.
"99 votes for the government. While 105 members have voted against the government, HD Kumaraswamy has failed the confidence vote," Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar confirms after counting the votes.
Voting has ended. Numbers are expected any minute from now. Counting of votes taking place.
Karnataka Speaker K R Ramesh said he will vote only if there is a tie. Voting underway at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.
The legislators are counted row by row. Deputy Speaker's vote counted. Speaker says though he has the right to cast the vote, he doesn't want to participate in the vote.
Bell for trust vote rung in Vidhana Soudha. Voting to begin in two minutes. Doors of the Assembly closed.
Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar said I had kept my resignation ready in my pocket and come to the assembly not knowing what will happen today.
Karnataka Chief Minister H Kumaraswamy Tuesday said he was ready to "sacrifice" his post happily, as he replied to the confidence motion debate in the assembly "I am ready to happily sacrifice this position, Kumaraswamy said after the assembly debated the confidence motion for four days.
He also said he had no intention to drag the trust vote and added, "I apologise to the Speaker and the people of the state." Kumaraswamy also said discussions were on why he had not resigned and was sticking to the chair.
Siddaramaiah slammed the rebel MLAs for defecting in exchange of money and said their "political samadhi" would be built. "Rs 25 crore, 30 crore, 50 crore, where is this money coming from? They(rebel MLAs) will be disqualified. Their political 'samadhi' will be built. Whoever defected since 2013 lost. The same fate awaits those who have resigned this time. It should happen," ANI quoted him as saying. Reming the poaching "a wholesale trade", he said, "If there is retail trade of one or two members then it's not a problem. The MLAs (rebel) who have gone have indulged in wholesale trade."
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Alok Kumar said they have imposed Section 144 in Bengaluru for the next two days. "Today and tomorrow we are imposing Section 144 across the city. All pubs, wine shops will be closed till 25th. If anyone is found violating these rules, they will be punished," ANI quoted him as saying.
The BJP on Tuesday accused Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy of using his position to "waste" the taxpayers' money till the last second. As Kumaraswamy came in late to the state assembly on Friday, debating on the confidence motion moved by him the BJP took the Twitter to send him a message.
"Session for #KarnatakaTrustVote has begun. But CM @hd_kumaraswamy is resting at his Taj West end hotel. His message is clear. He will continue to loot & waste tax payers money to the very last second as CM. He & his party will be answerable to Kannadigas very soon," the tweet said.
The Supreme Court Court on Tuesday took note of the submissions of Karnataka Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar that voting on the trust motion moved by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy is likely to be concluded by this evening.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi considered the submission of senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for the Speaker. (PTI)
During the resumed debate on the motion of confidence moved by chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, Yeddyurappa told Siddaramaiah, the Congress Legislature Party leader, that the whip he has issued against the rebel MLAs has no value. "My understanding of the law is that the Supreme Court has given protection to the (rebel) MLAs from the whip. They cannot be compelled to attend the assembly proceedings. Whether you agree with me or not but your whip has no value," the BJP veteran told Siddaramaiah.
However, Siddaramaiah countered him saying the apex court has not barred him from issuing whip and the Speaker of the assembly has upheld his right "Supreme court has not told me not to issue whip. I have got every right to issue whip under the Constitution. It has been upheld by the Speaker," he said. (PTI)
Bring them (rebel MLAs) here, let them vote against this government, says D K Shivakumar.
"BJP is misusing the legislature and judiciary, no one can pacify the disgruntled. The BJP too will face the same problem," said Tourism Minister, Sa Ra Mahesh in the assembly.
Addressing Karnataka Assembly, Congress leader DK Shivakumar said, "It's not BJP leaders who have back-stabbed me but it's the rebels in Mumbai who have back-stabbed me. But, do not worry, they will do the same to all of you. They cannot become Ministers I'm telling you. BJP leaders are being misguided. I went to Mumbai to speak to them (rebel MLAs). I spoke to one of the MLAs there and he asked me to come and take him away."
Lawyers of the rebel MLAs met Karnataka Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar at his chamber in Vidhana Soudha today. A delegation from the Congress party also met the Speaker.
Karnataka Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar on Tuesday expressed displeasure over near-empty treasury benches as the House took up the debate on Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's motion of confidence for the fourth day running. "Should this be the fate of the speaker or the assembly," Kumar asked minister Priyank Kharge. "You will lose credibility, leave alone strength," he told him.
Speaking in the Karnataka assembly, Congress leader and Minister DK Shivakumar said, "We are living in the land of Basavanna. I have seen many debates but now we’re being shown in a bad frame. We should stick to our ideologies."
The Supreme Court Court on Tuesday took note of the submissions of Karnataka Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar that the voting on the trust motion moved by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy is likely to be concluded by this evening. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi considered the submission of senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for the Speaker. It adjourned hearing till Wednesday on the plea of two independent MLAs seeking a direction to the speaker to forthwith conduct the floor-test in the House
In the past fortnight, the BJP’s hand in moving 13 Congress-JD(S) rebels, and two Independents who were ministers in the coalition, to Mumbai, has been evident on various fronts — state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa’s secretary N R Santhosh was spotted by Karnataka televisions cameras while helping rebels board chartered flights to Mumbai.
The real window into the BJP’s game plan to topple the coalition came in February when Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy used the services of Sharanagouda Kandakur, the son of a JD(S) MLA, to trap Yeddyurappa while making a defection offer. “We are taking 20 people on board. We will make around 12 people who join us ministers and around eight people chairmen of corporations. Those whom we make ministers, we will give Rs 10 crore,” Yeddyurappa was heard saying in the JD(S) sting tapes.
Expressing confidence of toppling the Kumaraswamy government, BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje told ANI, "They don't have the numbers. They're a minority govt. MLAs are in Mumbai. They don't want to come. Let's see what happens by this evening. Confident that this govt will definitely go. This isn't a people's govt. People are upset,MLAs are upset."
Congress' D K Shivakumar said Speaker has served notice to rebel MLAs, giving them time till 11 am Tuesday. "BJP is trying to convince them that they won't be disqualified & they will be made ministers. As per Constitution of India, you can't be made a member once you're disqualified," he added.
"It's the final day for this govt. We believed yesterday was the last but because of the 'milapi kushti' in b/w ruling party and others they postponed it for one day...We'll see what happens and if division of votes take place this govt will definitely be defeated," BJP leader Jagadish Shettar told ANI.
The Karanataka Assembly session has begun but the Congress-JD (S) leaders are yet to arrive. The BJP has begun holding discussions with the Speaker. On behalf of the coalition, JDS MLA Shivalinge Gowda said the leaders thought that session would begin at 11.
The Shiv Sena on Monday asked why the Union government has been a mute spectator to the drama unfolding in Karnataka from both sides. In an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana, it said the Centre should either impose President’s rule or dissolve the Karnataka Assembly. “The country is seeing a picture of how a chief minister, who has lost majority, is struggling to save his chair. Do something and end the drama in Karnataka,” it added.
While the Opposition BJP has 105 MLAs in the House and the support of two Independents, the ruling coalition has 101 MLAs on its side on paper. On Monday, however, as many as 20 coalition MLAs were absent from the House, suggesting that their numbers could be down to 98.
Rebel MLAs are unlikely to appear before Speaker Ramesh Kumar today. Many of them are camping in Mumbai for the past two weeks and there is no clarity on whether they will reach Bengaluru to meet the Speaker. The meeting is scheduled for 11 am today.
The Speaker, who seemed perturbed over the prolonged proceedings, stated categorically that the discussion would end by 4 PM on Tuesday and by 6 PM, the voting process would be completed. Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara were not present towards the end of proceedings, when Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah told the Speaker, "100 per cent.. voting can happen tomorrow."
Welcome to The Indian Express' live blog on Karnataka. The Assembly was adjourned on Monday without holding the trust vote. Karnataka Speaker K R Ramesh, has, however, set a new deadline - 6 pm today. He will also meet the rebel MLAs today. The Supreme Court will also take up the plea of two Independent MLAs over the trust vote. Follow this space to track the latest news