Bengaluru: Karnataka's ruling coalition must not delay a trust vote anymore, the assembly Speaker said on Monday, amid allegations that the Congress-Janata Dal Secular alliance was buying time with lengthy speeches after losing its majority.
Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar also summoned rebel lawmakers who have endangered the survival of the government tomorrow following the coalition's request that they be disqualified.
No trust vote was held last week despite two deadlines on Friday set by Governor Vajubhai Vala.
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday said he was "not trying to cling onto power". "My only intention of seeking time for debate on trust vote is to let the entire country know how the BJP, which talks of morality, is trying to subvert the very principles of democracy as well as constitution," he said in a statement.
The ruling coalition had 118 members in the 224-member assembly. If the resignations of the 15 legislators who approached the Supreme Court are accepted, the government will be left with 101 members. With the support of the two independents, the opposition BJP has 107 legislators, which is two more than the majority mark of 105.
Here are the Highlights on the crisis faced by Karnataka coalition.
Jul 22, 2019 19:35 (IST)
Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar holds a meeting with BJP leaders -- Sunil Kumar, Basavaraj Bommai, CT Ravi -- and JDS leaders Sa Ra Mahesh, HD Revanna, Bandeppa Kashempur -- in his chamber at Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru, reports news agency ANI.
Jul 22, 2019 18:21 (IST)
Home Minister MB Patil has called an official meeting with Commissioner of Police, to discuss about zero traffic reportedly given to rebel lawmakers when they came back to Bengaluru to meet the Speaker, according to news agency ANI. JD(S) lawmaker, AT Ramaswamy had raised this matter in the Assembly today.
Jul 22, 2019 18:11 (IST)
Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar says: "I am not in any hurry to adjourn and go. Let us have some discipline."
Jul 22, 2019 17:29 (IST)
JD(S) lawmaker AT Ramaswamy walks out of the Vidhana Soudha following state home minister MB Patil's statement on zero traffic reportedly being given to rebel legislators. Mr Ramaswamy had said, "If Home Minister is lying blatantly in front of the House, how can I stay here?"
Jul 22, 2019 17:27 (IST)
Karnataka Chief Minister Kumaraswamy asks Speaker for more time for the vote during the meeting. The Speaker has asked him to do it today.