Amid an ongoing political crisis in Karnataka, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday sought time from the Assembly Speaker to prove majority on the floor of the house.
BENGALURU: Amid the ongoing political crisis in Karnataka, the Monsoon session of the state assembly commenced from Friday in order to pass the finance bill. Ahead of that, the chief whip of the Congress-JSD coalition government, Ganesh Hukkeri, had issued a whip asking all legislators of both the parties to attend the first day of the Monsoon session of the assembly.
In a related development, the Supreme Court ordered a ''status quo'' in connection with a plea filed by a group of dissident ruling Karnataka coalition MLAs seeking its urgent intervention in their case. In their plea, the MLAs had accused the Assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar of not discharging his constitutional duties and not approving their resignations.
During a hearing on Thursday, the top court had asked the 10 MLAs to appear before the Speaker and requested the latter “to grant them an audience at the same time”. Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar had asserted that he needs time to examine the resignations submitted by rebel Congress-JD(S) MLAs. A Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that the decision taken by the Speaker has to be interim
The Congress-JDS government, which came to power around 13 months ago, plunged into a serious crisis on Saturday following the resignation of over a dozen MLAs from the two parties.
After BJP MLAs were moved to a resort, Janata Dal Secular JD(S) said that the BJP government's "cowardice was at display" as it was afraid of the floor test. It also said that the state government would win the confidence vote by a huge margin.
Why is BJP herding its MLAs to a resort now?
We will not stoop to your level and poach MLAs.Why are you afraid of the floor test, when you claim to have majority? The cowardice of BJP is at display!@hd_kumaraswamy will win the confidence vote by a huge margin. Wait n watch!
— Janata Dal Secular (@JanataDal_S) July 12, 2019
BJP MLAs moved to Ramada resort from the state assembly, news agency ANI reported.
#correction Bengaluru: BJP MLAs leaving for Ramada resort from state assembly. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/wT285QLw0x
— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2019
We are confident that is why we are moving the vote of confidence motion. BJP is afraid because they know there are black sheep in their party, tells former Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah to news agency ANI.
Former Karnataka CM and Congress leader Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru: We are confident that is why we are moving vote of confidence motion. BJP is afraid because they know there are black sheep in their party. pic.twitter.com/EKyd1vDT0A
— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2019
His statement comes after CM HD Kumaraswamy said that he was ready for a trust vote to prove his majority on the floor of the house.
After all these developments, I am seeking your permission and time to prove the majority in this session: Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy
Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy in Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru: After all these developments, I am seeking your permission & time to prove the majority in this session. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/olx8BZ90Xx
— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2019
Karnataka rebel MLAs returned to Renaissance - Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel - late on Thursday. They had met Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar in Bengaluru after they were directed by Supreme Court to meet the Speaker at 6 PM and resubmit their resignations.
Mumbai: Karnataka rebel MLAs returned to Renaissance - Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel late last night. They had met Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar in Bengaluru y'day after they were directed by Supreme Court to meet the Speaker at 6 pm & resubmit their resignations. pic.twitter.com/Skdf2ehiIJ
— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2019
Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar had asserted that he needs time to examine the resignations submitted by rebel Congress-JD(S) MLAs. A top court bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had said on Thursday that the decision taken by the Speaker has to be interim.
Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar: I need to examine these resignations (of rebel MLAs) all night and ascertain if they are genuine. pic.twitter.com/cLZY5Jk8cn
— ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2019