Karnataka Floor Test Today, Karnataka Trust Vote : Stung by the resignation of 15 MLAs, the strength of Kumaraswamy government in the 225-member Assembly to 102 MLAs compared to the opposition BJP’s 105 MLAs plus two Independents.
The political drama in Karnataka continues with the Assembly being adjourned close to midnight on Monday, with 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.
The Supreme Court, meanwhile, is likely to take up for hearing a fresh plea filed by two Independent Karnataka MLAs, seeking holding of the floor test “forthwith” in the state Assembly. The MLAs who withdrew support to the ruling coalition have sought direction to the ruling JD(S)-Congress coalition government to conduct the floor test on or before 5 pm on Monday.
