Karnataka chief minister Kumaraswamy has sought July 17 as the date to prove his majority on the floor of the Karnataka Assembly
Bengaluru: The D-Day has finally been fixed. Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy has sought Wednesday, July 17, to prove his majority on the floor of the Karnataka Assembly.
Earlier today (July 12), the chief minister stumped everyone with his announcement, expressing his desire to seek a trust vote, in the backdrop of as many as 18 MLAs from the Congress-JD(S) resigning, which includes the two independents.
The Speaker Ramesh Kumar had replied to him saying he would broach the issue in the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting.
The meeting was scheduled late afternoon, but BS Yeddyurappa, the leader of opposition and former chief minister was not present in the meeting. So the Speaker said he would have another BAC meeting on Monday (July 15) and inform the House about it.
It might be recalled that the Supreme Court had issued a restraining order on the Speaker not to accept resignations nor disqualify the rebel MLAs until Tuesday (July 16).
Senior Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi and Rajeev Dhawan had appeared for the Speaker and chief minister respectively while Mukul Rohatgi had appeared for the rebel MLAs.
As arguments flew thick and fast, the Supreme Court wondered whether the Speaker can challenge its order. Counsels for the defendants pointed out to the Supreme Court that the Speaker was deferring the issue inordinately, and he was going by the rule book. Mukul Rohatgi alleged that the Speaker was “lying in a presser” and had a motive to support the ruling coalition.
As the court decreed, both the government and the rebel MLAs heaved a sigh of relief.
However, the move to seek a vote of confidence by the chief minister is seen as a move to tame and intimidate the rebel MLAs and they stand for disqualification in the event of not attending the session and supporting the government.
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