Karanataka Budget: HD Kumaraswamy had addressed the media earlier today
The Karnataka budget will be presented at around noon today after legislative party meetings by the Congress, JDS and BJP. The Congress issued a whip requiring all its lawmakers to abide by directives, failing which they would be disqualified and banned from contesting polls for the next six years. Congress leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah also directed four dissenting Congress lawmakers to attend a Congress Legislature Party meeting today, warning of action as per the anti-defection law.
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has tried to woo the rebel Congress lawmakers with prime positions in the government, ahead of the Karnataka Budget.
Among the beneficiaries of this move are lawmakers Pratap Gowda Patil, Basaveshwaranagar Daddal and MA Gopalaswamy. While Mr Daddal has been appointed as chairman of the Scheduled Tribes Welfare Board, Mr Gopalaswamy is the new parliamentary secretary to Water Resource Minister DK Shivakumar.
Disgrunted lawmaker Umesh Jadhav -- found to be absenting himself from Congress Legislative Party meetings despite repeated warnings -- has been replaced by Mr Patil as the chairman of the Warehouse Corporation.
Mr Kumaraswamy addressed the media, before the budget instead of after as usually happens, in which he criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa. He also played audio which says BS Yeddyurappa spoke to lawmakers and their family members to win them over.
Mr Gowda, who was earlier said to be missing, is in a hospital in Mumbai.
Here are the LIVE UPDATES over the Karnataka Budget:
"Agonized by painful words spoken by HD Kumaraswamy," tweets N Chandrababu Naidu
"Agonized by the painful words spoken by Karnataka CM Sri @hd_kumaraswamy. As he rightly said, PM Modi's devotion to Parliament is pretentious, as is clear by the systematic demolition of democracy and destruction of institutions in the country. We must unite to #SaveDemocracy," N Chandrababu Naidu tweeted.
"If allegations are true, I'm ready to retire from politics," BS Yeddyurappa tells NDTV
"Being CM of Karnataka, speaking like this without evidence doesn't look nice. More than 11 MLAs aren't going to attend budget session, I've been told," BS Yeddyurappa told NDTV.
On allegations of BS Yeddyurappa approaching the Karanataka assembly speaker with a bribe as well, he said, "If it is true, speaker must answer. If true, I am ready to retire from politics."
"They're saying this to save their government. That's why they're saying such nonsense," Mr Yeddyurappa said.
Karnataka Budget 2019: Karnataka government has released Rs 5,450 crore so far for farm loan waiver, says HD Kumaraswamy
The JDS-Congress government in Karnataka has released Rs 5,450 crore so far towards farmers loan waiver scheme, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said Friday, according to news agency Press Trust of India.
Presenting the ruling coalition''s second budget in the assembly in Karnataka capital Bengaluru, Mr Kumaraswamy, who holds the finance portfolio, said it had benefitted about 12 lakh farmers.
He also announced that "Ayushman Bharat" scheme of the centre would be combined with "Aroygya Karnataka" and it would be renamed as "Ayushman Bharat Karnataka," according to PTI.
"Besides 61.5 lakh existing beneficiaries, it would be extended to another 52 lakh people, Mr Kumaraswamy said, quoted by PTI.
BJP members led by BS Yeddyurappa, who have been disrupting the proceedings since the budget session began on Wednesday alleging that the government lacked majority, staged a walkout, according to a PTI report.
Congress members, on their part, held placards, criticising the BJP's alleged attempt to topple the coalition government.
Karnataka Budget 2019: HD Kumaraswamy at Vidhan Soudha to present the budget
HD Kumaraswamy is at Karnataka's Vidhan Soudha to present the state budget
"Will approach Speaker to take action against four rebel Congress MLAs under Anti-Defection law seeking their disqualification," says Siddaramaiah
"Four Rebel MLAs of the Congress didn't turn up for the Congress Legislature Party meeting," said Congress leader Siddaramaiah.
"We will approach the Speaker to take action against them under the Anti-Defection Law seeking their disqualification," he said.
"Conspiracy" hatched by BJP chief Amit Shah, BS Yedyurappa, alleges Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President
"The conversation reveals the conspiracy hatched by Amit Shah, BS Yeddyurappa to overthrow a democratically elected government. The naked act of anti constitutional methods being followed by them is exposed. An enquiry at the highest level is a must to expose the true face of BJP," said Dinesh Gundu Rao, President,Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, in a tweet.
Complaint against BS Yeddyurappa, lawmaker Ashwath Narayan for allegedly trying to kidnap Congress, JDS lawmakers to disrupt budget session
An advocate, RLN Murthy has filed an online complaint against BS Yeddyurappa and Malleswaram lawmaker Ashwath Narayan alleging they tried to kidnap Congress and JDS lawmakers to disrupt the budget session.
The advocate had filed a complaint through email.
"Kumaraswamy is an expert in voice recording": BS Yeddyurappa hits out at HD Kumaraswamy
"Kumaraswamy himself is a film producer. He is an expert in voice recording.... whatever the charge he has made is baseless," BS Yeddyurappa said, according to news agency PTI.
He also dismissed a claim by the chief minister that he had spoken in the audio about a "Rs 50 crore" offer to the assembly speaker.
"I will retire from politics if it (the allegation) is proved...If I had spoken like this (about the speaker), if it is proved...I will resign as an MLA and quit politics," he said, according to PTI.
"HD Kumaraswamy is hiding his failures": BS Yeddyurappa hits back at Karnataka Chief Minister
BJP Karnataka president BS Yeddyurappa Friday rubbished as "fake" and "a concocted story" audio clips released by state chief minister HD Kumaraswamy about his alleged bid to lure an MLA to topple the Congress-JD(S) government, according to news agency Press Trust of India.
Shortly after HD Kumaraswamy released the clips, BS Yeddyurappa said he had not met anyone to woo JD(S) lawmaker Nagana Gouda as alleged and that the charge against him was "far from the truth."
BS Yeddyurappa said he went to Devadurga, where the lawmaker's son Sharan Gouda claimed to have met him and recorded the conversation, to visit a temple and flew back to the city, according to PTI.
HD Kumaraswamy had "concocted" the story to hide his failures and inability to keep the JD(S) and Congress flock together, Mr Yeddyurappa told reporters.
"It is a fake audio... I have not met anyone. Kumaraswamy is trying to hide his failures. This is a drama," BS Yeddyurappa said.
Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa dismisses "fake" audio clips released by HD Kumaraswamy
Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa said the audio released by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy is "fake," according to news agency Press Trust of India.
Karnataka Budget: "Full time movie producer turned part time Chief Minister used his connection to mimic BS Yeddyurappa's voice," tweets Karnataka BJP
"In a desperate attempt to save his govt full time movie producer turned part time CM HD Kumaraswamy has used his connection to mimic BS Yeddyurappa's voice," tweeted the Karnataka BJP.
Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy released an audio clip of a conversation allegedly between BJP State Chief BS Yeddyurappa and JDS MLA Naganagowda Kandkur's son Sharana where Yeddyurappa reportedly made an offer Rs 25 lakh and ministerial post for his father, according to news agency ANI.
Karnataka Budget: "Have requested Mallikarjun Kharge to move a privilege motion against PM because of how he misled about farmers loans": HD Kumaraswamy
"Unfortunately, Deve Gowda does not get time on the floor from Speaker because of it numbers. I have requested Mallikarjun Kharge to move a privilege motion against PM because of how he misled about farmers loans," said HD Kumaraswamy.
"BS Yeddyurappa statement seems to involve Maharashtra CM. I request entire citizen of this county judge what is going on in this country exposed by his leaders," HD Kumaraswamy said.
Karnataka Budget 2019: "I have openly said I will be CM as long as I have the support": HD Kumaraswamy
"I am not stuck to the office. I have openly said I will be CM as long as I have the support," HD Kumaraswamy said.
"Narayana Gowda considers HD Deve Gowda as his guru," says HD Kumaraswamy
"Narayana Gowda (JDS lawmaker) considers my father his guru. He has sent a WhatsApp of his being treated. They are offering him money to go to Mumbai," said HD Kumaraswamy.
Karnataka Budget 2019: "He's encouraging his friends to demolish democracy through black money," says HD Kumaraswamy
"On one side Narendra Modi is preaching to the country and politicians, on the other side, he is encouraging his friends to demolish democracy through black money. I will expose this now, I have the proof to back my charge," HD Kumaraswamy said.
Karnataka Budget: "So for the last two days why haven't they asked for a no-confidence motion?" HD Kumaraswamy blasts BS Yeddyurappa
"Yeddyurappa is more senior than me. He is saying my coalition government does not have support. So for the last two days why haven't they asked for a no-confidence motion?" HD Kumaraswamy said, hitting out at BS Yeddyurappa.
Karanataka Budget: "He considers himself saviour of the country": HD Kumaraswamy hits out at PM Modi
"He is systematically demolishing democratic institutions. He considers himself saviour of the country. My friends in Parliament must expose real truth of PM of this country," HD Kumaraswamy said.
Karnataka Budget 2019: "I have made clear what we have done so far": HD Kumaraswamy addresses media
"PM bows his head as he enters parliament. He gives speeches about corruption. He criticises Karnataka's farm loan waiver. I have made clear what we have done so far," HD Kumaraswamy said.
Karnataka Budget 2019: "Doctors are advising to not go out," says bedridden JDS lawmaker
"Due to food poisoning, I have been admitted to hospital and doctors are advising to not go out. I couldn't attend the legislative party meet and budget session. But I have informed my leader Kumaraswamy and the Speaker as well," JDS lawmaker Narayana Gowda said, according to news agency ANI
Karnataka Budget: Dissenting Congress lawmaker removed from post of chairman of Warehouse Corporation
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has removed dissenting Congress lawmaker Dr Umesh Jadhav from the post of chairman of Warehouse Corporation. Pratap Gowda Patil replaced him as the chairman.
Karnataka Budget 2019: Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy tweeted a day before Karantaka Budget