After the Congress-Janata Dal Secular coalition in Karnataka ignored the two deadlines given by the Governor to prove its majority during a trust vote, the Speaker adjourned the Assembly till Monday.
The ruling coalition earlier questioned the Governor's power to issue such a direction, with Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy citing a Supreme Court verdict that a Governor cannot act as ombudsman of Legislature. Mr Kumaraswamy said he would not criticise the Governor and requested the Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar to decide whether the Governor can set a deadline.
Earlier today, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy continued his attack on the opposition BJP, accusing the party of offering "Rs. 40-50 crore" to lawmakers to switch sides. The BJP has alleged delaying tactics by the coalition, which appears to be in a minority after losing the support of 18 lawmakers over the past two weeks. Following the Speaker's decision to delay the trust vote, the BJP lawmakers spent the night in the assembly.
Sixteen legislators - 13 from the Congress and three from JDS - have resigned in the last two weeks, while two independent legislators have withdrawn their support to the coalition government. If the resignations of the 15 legislators who approached the Supreme Court are accepted, the ruling coalition's tally will plummet to 101 (if Ramalinga Reddy takes back his resignation), reducing the 13 month-old Kumaraswamy government to a minority.
Here are the Highlights on Karnataka crisis:
Siddaramaiah,Congress on trust vote debate in Karnataka 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 also. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/pmCUng1GeL
- ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2019
Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar: 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. pic.twitter.com/WjiPTBX4Gy
- ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2019
Karnataka Congress MP, Nasir Hussain: I think the Congress party will go to Supreme Court because Governor cannot interfere in the matter of Speaker, he has no right to do it. Governor is arbitrarily interfering and trying to work as agent of a party. #KarnatakaFloorTest pic.twitter.com/Ha8Bvb7lXo
- ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2019