Karnataka Assembly trust vote highlights: Karnataka Assembly speaker KR Ramesh Kumar adjourned the house till Monday after the day continued to see developments in the political turmoil in the state that is on since last few days. The day saw the governor asking CM Kumaraswamy to face the trust vote till 6 pm. The CM moved to Supreme court maintaining that the governor should not interfere in the proceedings of the House.
Earlier on Friday, the CM accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of killing democracy in the country. Speaking on the floor of the House, Kumaraswamy said that the chair is not important to him and he will not request anyone to save his 14-month-old government. The CM asked the saffron party why it is in hurry, and advised it to allow the House to have a healthy debate. He reminded the BJP about 1999 incident when former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee took 10 days to debate before moving a confidence vote. “Why such a hurry now? Why not allow a discussion? Why the hurry to go through vote without a debate? Dont hurry through the debate because it needs to be recorded for history. Let there be a fair debate about how systematically you (BJP) are killing democracy in this country,” he said. Earlier this morning, state BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa said that Kumaraswamy will deliver his his farewell speech in the Assembly as he exuded confidence that the Congress-JD(S) government will fall short of the majority mark in the 225-member House. “Mostly today will be the end of Congress-JD(S) government’s misrule… the Chief Minister will make his farewell speech today, we will patiently hear it,” he said, adding that his party will decide on the future course of action after consulting the national leadership.
As many as 16 MLAs (13 from Congress and three from JD-S) have resigned. Independent MLAs R Shankar and H Nagesh have also withdrawn their support to the government, putting it on the verge of collapse. However, these resignations have not been accepted by the Speaker yet. The coalition strength stands at 117 — Congress 78, JD(S) 37, BSP 1, and nominated 1, besides the Speaker. The opposition BJP has 107 MLAs in the 225-member House including two independents. It is certain that of the voting takes places today, the Kumaraswamy government will fall short of the majority majority mark 113.
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No trust vote today. Assembly speaker adjourns assembly till Monday (July 22) 11 am.
No trust vote today. Assembly speaker adjourns assembly till Monday (July 22) 11 am.
'Want to inform the Supreme Court, people and the House. No MLA has given me any letter requesting for protection and I don't know if they have written to govt. If they have informed any member that they have stayed away from House because security reasons then they are misleading the people of the state and rest of the country, says speaker.
Leader of opposition and BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa urged the the Speaker to finish the proceedings and also vote by today itself. Speaking at the Assembly, he said, "We respect you, Speaker sir.Governor's last letter said the vote should finish today. People on our side will sit peacefully till late in the night. Let it take however long it takes & it'll also mean that we can respect Governor's direction".
Speaker on confidence motion | Lot of discussion has happened. I want to close it (trust motion process) today...Caesar's wife should be above suspicion. I cannot be guilty of dragging proceedings." Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy made a preliminary submission that the process can be concluded on Monday.
Congress-JDS members seek an adjournment of House till Monday or Tuesday. To this, the Speaker says "No.No." "I will have to face the world."
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has moved the Supreme Court objecting Governor Vajubhai Vala's direction on trust vote in the House. The Governor today shot another letter asking the Speaker to complete the confidence motion proceedings by 6 pm today. However, Kumaraswamy questioned the deadlines set by the Governor. He said directions of the Governor are in contravention of apex court's earlier verdict. In his application, the chief minister contended: "No such direction on trust vote could have been issued by Governor when confidence motion was already initiated."
CM HD Kumaraswamy: I have respect for the Governor. But the second love letter from the Governor has hurt me. He only came to know about horse-trading 10 days ago? I leave the decision on the floor test to you (the Speaker). It won't be directed by Delhi. I request you to protect me from the letter sent by the Governor.
Siddaramaiah on trust vote: BJP is under tremendous pressure as they consider this as a form of trade business. Now that they have made their payments to few, they want to assume power as they wish. But that is not how our Parliamentary democracy works!!
Karnataka Congress has moved the Supreme Court contending that its order on the resignation of 15 rebel MLAs was taking away the power of the party to issue whip to its legislators in the ongoing trust vote. Karnataka Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao filed the application seeking clarification on the order which said the rebel MLAs cannot be compelled to participate in the ongoing Assembly proceedings. 'It is respectfully submitted that as a result of the order dated July 17, the constitutional rights of the applicant under the Tenth Schedule are vitally affected and as such the instant Application is being moved,' it said. (PTI)
BJP leader R Ashok on horse-trading charges by Congress: We have faith in Speaker that he will take the right decision. Allegations made by Congress regarding horse trading are a bit bizarre. What fake righteousness is this? One wonders where these principles were when they cross voted during Rajya Sabha elections. Where were their principles when they backstabbed earlier coalitions? Who paid then for hotel stays, airfare, moving people here and there? Suddenly they are wailing about principles.
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala sends another letter to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to prove majority before 6 pm, today.
Karnataka Congress President Dinesh Gundu Rao has approached the Supreme Court. Rao in his petition claimed that the apex court order on rebel MLAs had violated the party's right to issue whip to its MLAs.
BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa: Kolar MLA Srinivas Gowda(JDS) alleged in the assembly that he was offered Rs 5 crore by BJP. We are moving a breach of privilege motion against him.
Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on trust vote debate in assembly: The discussion is still not complete and 20 members are yet to participate. I don’t think it will finish today and it will continue on Monday as well.
Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy: 'I have given funds to all of your districts. But you (BJP) say I am the CM of only two-three districts. That is why I am saying there should not be any hurry, let us discuss it. You are trying to destroy democracy...You blame Revanna (CM's brother and minister) of carrying a lemon. You (BJP) believe in Hindu culture but you blame him. He carries lemon with him and he goes to a temple. But you accuse him of doing black magic. Is it even possible to save a government by black magic?
On Governor's deadline to complete the trust vote before 1:30 pm, Speaker Ramesh Kumar said that the Governor's order has to be followed or not, it has to be decided by Chief Minister because the letter was sent to him, so he has to decide.
The Speaker said that voting will be done only after a debate, prompting opposition from opposition benches. "Unless the discussion is complete, you cannot press for division," he said.
The Speaker has adjourned the House till 3 pm. The House meet again at 3 pm after lunch break.
The deadline set by Governor for HD Kumaraswamy to prove majority on the floor of the Vidhan Soudha has expired. The Governor had asked him to prove majority before 1:30 pm on Friday.
CM Kumaraswamy questions the deadline set by Governor to prove majority in the Vidhan Soudha. He said that the Governor has set a deadline at 1:30 pm to prove majority. "Supreme Court has left to your (Speaker) discretion to conduct the proceedings of the House. I have already moved the motion of confidence. I will leave it to your discretion to decide whether the Governor can issue such direction," he said.
Speaker Ramesh Kumar informed the Assembly that Congress MLA Shrimant Patil wrote a letter to Governor saying he visited Chennai for personal work and felt chest pain. "Visited hospital and on doctor suggestion I came to Mumbai and got admitted here. Hence couldn't attend assembly session,was not kidnapped by BJP," he sad.
Mumbai Police has provided security to Karnataka Congress MLA Shrimant Patil, who has been admitted in a state-run hospital in Mumbai, and is recording his statement, a PTI report said. The Kagwad MLA arrived in the city on Thursday and was hospitalised after he complained of chest pain. He was first admitted in a private hospital and later shifted to state-run St George Hospital in South Mumbai.
Lok Sabha witnessed sloganeering and protests on Friday as Congress MP raised the issue of ongoing political crisis in Karnataka. As soon as the Lower House began proceedings, Congress MPs wanted to talk about the situation in Karnataka but Speaker Om Birla did not entertain the request. With the Speaker going ahead with the Question Hour, MPs walked into the Well and were joined by those from the DMK. More than 30 MPs from the Congress, DMK and few other parties were in the Well for over 15 minutes. Some of the members displayed placards, saying 'Save Democracy' and shouted 'We want justice' slogans.
Kumaraswamy asked opposition not to be in hurry through the debate because it needs to be recorded for history. "Let us not hurry. Let there be a fair debate about how systematically you (BJP) are killing democracy in this country," he said.
Kumaraswamy said that former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee took ten days in 1999 to debate before moving a confidence vote. "Why such a hurry now? Why not allow a discussion?" he asked the opposition.
Kumaraswamy praised Speaker Ramesh Kumar's role in conducting the House. He said that in 2010, when there was a similar situation, police was stationed inside the House but today "I commend you for the way you have conducted the House".
Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy slammed the BJP for mocking his brother HD Revanna for carrying a lemon to a temple. He said that the BJP talks about temple, but can't respect Hindus. "You talk of Hindutva and attack people who go to temples. They have even alleged that Revanna indulges in black magic, he said, adding that his family members have faith in God and he can tell standing before any God that his family doesn't practice black magic.
HD Kumaraswamy asked BS Yeddyurappa what is the hurry to come to power? The CM said that he will not hang on to power, by begging for power. He reminded BSY about 2009 incident when BJP MLAs went to a resort and the government was in a deep crisis. He said that then CM had requested them to save him apologising. Kumaraswamy said that he is in the same position today but "I will not request anyone".
CM Kumaraswamy claimed that there has been an effort to destabilise his government from the day it was formed. "It is immaterial who is in position of power, but there is a need to set right this political mockery. It was BJP which started a new chapter getting MLAs from opposition to resign. 17-18 MLAs resigned," he said.
Kumaraswamy said that two months after BS Yeddyurappa became CM in 2008 with the support of five independent MLAs, the independents MLAs met him and asked to topple the government. "But I did not encourage them," he said.
HD Kumaraswamy said that he has not misused power. "The BJP leaders should realise that power is not eternal to them. PM Modi has got 300 plus seats in Lok Sabha polls, but I want to remind all that Rajiv Gandhi had won 400 plus seats in 1984 and everyone knows what happened when Bofors scam allegations were made," he said. "If I wanted to save my chair I would have, but for me the chair is not important".
Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar dismissed suggestions that he was trying to delay the vote on the confidence motion moved by CM Kumaraswamy. "I don't have to be partisan," he said while expressing anguish over suggestions that he was trying to delay the trust vote.
BS Yeddyurappa said that Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy will make his farewell speech in the Vidhan Soudha today. "Mostly today will be the end of Congress-JDS government's misrule... the Chief Minister will make his farewell speech today, we will patiently hear it. Depending on the outcome of the proceedings in the House today, we will discuss with our national president Amit Shah and decide on the future course of action," he said.
Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar said that he has enough strength to take a non partisan decision despite such slurs. "Those who hurl slurs at my character, look back at what your life has been. Anyone who knows me knows I don't have lakhs of money stashed up like others. I have enough strength to take a non partisan decision despite such slurs," he said.
BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje climbs 1001 steps of Sri Chamundeshwari Devi Temple to pray for BS Yeddyurappa to become the next Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, ANI reported that Karnataka Police accompanied by Mumbai Police arrive at St. George Hospital, where Karnataka Congress MLA Shrimant Patil is admitted. Patil was admitted to a hospital yesterday. The MLA said that he will return only after doctors declare him fit. The Congress, on the other hand, has claimed that Patil was kidnapped to prevent him from attending the House proceedings.
This is the third motion on trust vote after the 2018 Assembly polls yielded a fractured mandate. The BJP had emerged as the single largest party with 105 seats but failing to mobilise numbers. Yeddyurappa had resigned as CM after being in office for three days before facing the trust vote in May last year. Kumaraswamy who succeeded him had won the trust vote after forming the government with support from the Congress.
As many as 16 MLAs (13 from Congress and three from JD-S) have had resigned. While independent MLAs R Shankar and H Nagesh have also withdrawn their support to the government, putting it on the edge, rebel Congress MLA Ramalinga Reddy retracted, saying he will support the government. The ruling combine's strength is 117-- Congress 78, JD(S) 37, BSP 1, and nominated 1, besides the Speaker.
The Trinamool Congress of Mamata Banerjee has also movesd an Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over 'kidnapping' of Karnataka MLAs. The notice has been moved by MP Sougata Ray.