A day before the state is poised to witness a trust vote in the Legislative Assembly, senior Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar told reporters that the JD(S) is ready to give up the chief minister post to save the coalition government in the state. However, state unit President Dinesh Gundu Rao dispelled them as rumours and asserted that the coalition is confident of winning the floor test on Monday, 22 July.
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, on the other hand, said he is “not trying to cling onto power” and instead is seeking time for debate to let the entire country know how “the BJP is trying to subvert the principles of democracy and Constitution.”
The fate of the fragile HD Kumaraswamy led Congress-JDS coalition government in Karnataka is likely to be decided on the floor of the assembly on Monday, 22 July. This comes after the Assembly failed the two deadlines set by Governor Vajubhai Vala to prove majority following the raft of resignations by rebel MLAs.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, 21 July, BSP chief Mayawati directed her lone MLA in Karnataka N Mahesh to vote in favour of the Kumaraswamy government during the floor test. Mahesh had earlier said he has been directed by the BSP supremo to not vote at all.
- Two Independent MLAs from Karnataka R Shankar and H Nagesh have moved the SC seeking direction to conduct floor test forthwith in Assembly
- Kumaraswamy and the Congress had moved the Supreme Court on Friday, accusing the Governor of interfering with the Assembly proceedings
- The coalition government is on shaky ground, with 16 MLAs, 13 of the Congress and three of the JD(S), resigning
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Rebel MLAs Refuse to Compromise On Their Stand
The rebel MLAs on Sunday, 21 July, bluntly refused to compromise on their stand even as Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy made an appeal to them to attend the House in an effort to save his 14-month old ministry.
We thought this government will do good to the state but it did not happen. There is no question of our attending the assembly session tomorrow, rebel JD(S) MLA K Gopalaiah said in a video, flanked by ten other legislators.
A H Vishwanath, who resigned as the JD(S) state president following the Lok Sabha election debacle, said "the demonic politics in the name of coalition has done no good to the people and compelled the MLAs to resign."
JD(S) Ready to Leave CM Post to Save Coalition: DK Shivakumar
Senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar told reporters on Sunday, 21 July, that the JD(S) is ready to sacrifice the Chief Minister post to save the coalition.
However, state unit President Dinesh Gundu Rao dispelled them as rumours and asserted that the coalition is confident of winning the floor test on Monday, 22 July.
Not Trying to Cling onto Power: Karnataka CM Ahead of Trust Vote
A day before the state is poised to witness a trust vote in the Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has called the BJP's efforts to destabilise his government as 'a new benchmark in the country for immoral politics'.
In a statement released by his office on Sunday, he wrote, “I want to make it amply clear that I am 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.”
Here is an excerpt from his statement:
At this juncture, I would like to appeal to such MLAs who have gone away from us to please attend the legislature session and narrate how the BJP took them away forcefully. I request them to explain on the floor of the House how the BJP sabotaged democratic edifice and destroyed its sanctity.
I also want to tell such MLAs that let there be no hesitation. Let us sit together and discuss all the issues including your problems, if any, and arrive at a solution to save this democratically elected government from the evil forces which are trying to shake the very foundation of democracy by misusing their political influence.”
2 Independent MLAs Urge SC Direction to Conduct Floor Test
Two Independent MLAs from Karnataka R Shankar and H Nagesh have moved the SC seeking direction to conduct floor test forthwith in Assembly.