Bangalore:
Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa faces the trust vote again today amidst tight security but the outcome will be determined by what the High Court decides on the Speaker's disqualification of 16 rebel MLAs.
Meanwhile, Yeddyurappa has claimed he would win the trust vote with absolute majority. (
Watch)
Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore is all set for the second trust vote in less than a week. And many people will be hoping that it will go smoothly without the mayhem that was witnessed here on Monday.
This is why Governor HR Bhardwaj asked the Karnataka Chief Minister to take the vote of confidence once again. Monday saw chaos, a voice-vote with no counting of ayes and nays before Speaker KG Bopaiah declared that Yeddyurappa's government had survived.
Independent MLAs, controversially disqualified by the Speaker ahead of Monday's vote made a last-ditch legal effort to get a chance to vote - approaching the High Court for a stay on their disqualification by the Speaker. That was not granted and they cannot vote.
However the High Court has granted the middle prayer - whatever happens on 14th is subject to the result of the writ petition.
This is a petition filed by the disqualified MLAs challenging their disqualification - that effectively brought the strength of the House down to 208 MLAs. Yeddyurappa has the support of at least 106 MLAs.
Yeddyurappa will have the numbers on his side when he faces the trust vote on Thursday morning. The High Court by refusing to stay the disqualification of 5 independent MLAs has seen to that. But it's not over yet. The High Court still has to decide if the disqualification of 16 MLAs was valid or not.
"Only thing that the Speaker can do in the light of the court judgement is that he can record votes in favour of and against Yeddyurappa," said YSV Datta, JD(S) leader.
Ever since Governor H R Bhardwaj and Speaker Bopaiah clashed on the disqualification of rebel MLAs, Karnataka has been pushed into a constitutional mess.
So what happens if the rebel MLAs win the case and their disqualification is found to be not valid?
"The Governor is then well within his powers to call for another trust vote," said R Narasimha Murthy, former Advocate General of Karnataka.
A trust vote for the third time? Narasimha Murthy says yes. Because otherwise it would be an infringement on their rights as legislators.