Confidence motion defeated with 99 members voting for it, 105 against it
The 14-month-old Congress-JD(S) Government in Karnataka finally fell on Monday ending more than a fortnight of political drama which saw 15 rebel MLAs camping in Mumbai and repeated intervention by the Supreme Court.
The confidence motion moved by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy was defeated in the Assembly, with 99 members voting for the motion and 105 against it.
After the Congress leaders failed in their efforts to establish contact with the rebels enjoying a cozy retreat in a plush hotel in Mumbai, Kumaraswamy had no option but to end this drama in view of his mounting criticism for delaying the vote on the motion and extending the debate for well over three days.
“The motion moved by the Chief Minister has fallen through,” Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar announced.
Kumaraswamy watched the proceedings sitting in a pensive mood after a spirited reply to the debate.
The writing on the wall was clear ever since the Supreme Court ruled that rebel lawmakers could not be compelled to attend the proceedings of the House tipping the scales in favour of the BJP.
The rebel Congress-JD(S) MLAs camping in Mumbai will leave for Bengaluru after BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa is sworn in as Chief Minister of the southern State, sources said. A BJP leader said the rebels, who have been staying at a luxury hotel since early this month are “very happy” after the JD(S)-Congress coalition Government lost the trust vote.
The rebels had earlier denied any BJP role in their resignations and withdrawal of support to the Government.
Twenty one MLAs —Congress-JDS (17), BSP (1), Independents (2) — skipped the proceedings, reducing the effective strength of the House to 204. The magic figure required was 103.
In his reply, Kumaraswamy said discussions were on why he had not resigned and was sticking to the chair. Sounding philosophical, he said when the 2018 Assembly polls results were out, he had plans to quit politics. “My political entry itself was all of a sudden and unexpected,” he said.
Kumaraswamy lashed out at the BJP for repeatedly trying to topple his Government and told the saffron party that its Government would not last long and in the event of collapse, it is better to go for elections. “First bomb will explode in Ministry formation,” he said.
Asserting that his Government was not shameless, he asked, “What wrong have we committed. We tried to create history. We have worked honestly to provide people friendly Government.”
Accusing the BJP of being in a hurry, he said, “I am not going to run away after speech. Let the people of the State know why I was removed. I am not going to run away fearing numbers. Let the votes be counted. Chief Minister’s seat is not a permanent to anyone.”
The BJP did not take part in the debate except for interventions and remained silent despite allegations thrown at it by the Congress and JD(S) members.
In his speech, Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Tuesday accused the BJP of trying come to power through backdoor using bribery and “wholesale” trade of MLAs. He said the 15 MLAs resigning was nothing but “wholesale trade.” Siddaramaiah alleged that “Rs 20,25 and 30 crore” were offered to lure the MLAs and asked “Where did this money come from?”
Flashing the victory sign after the voting, Yeddyurappa described the outcome as a “victory for democracy” as people were fed up with the Kumaraswamy Government.
He assured the people of Karnataka that “an era of development” would start with BJP in power.
On the next step, Yeddyurappa said an appropriate decision would be taken “as early as possible.”
The Government had defied two deadlines set by Governor Vajubhai Lala, who had asked Kumaraswamy to prove his majority on Friday itself, saying he had “prima facie satisfaction” that it has lost its majority confidence of the House.
The turmoil reached the climax after dramatic twists and turns that saw the MLAs of rival camps being corralled in resorts and hotels, allegations of bribery, rebel lawmakers knock the doors of the Supreme Court to decide on the issues of whip, floor test and Governor’s intervention.
Kumaraswamy and the Congress had moved the Supreme Court accusing the Governor of interfering with the Assembly proceedings when the debate on the trust vote was underway and sought clarification on its July 17 order causing hindrance in issuing whip to the legislators.
The court had held that the MLAs cannot be compelled to participate in the Assembly proceedings.
The ruling coalition made frenetic efforts to win back the rebels with chief minister making a desperate appeal to them on Sunday to attend the session to save his ministry but they refused to budge, sealing the fate of his Government.
The trial of strength took place a day after the Supreme Court ruled on July 17 that the 15 rebel Congress-JDS MLAs “ought not” to be compelled to participate in the proceedings of the ongoing session of the state Assembly.
The Karnataka drama unfolded with Anand Singh quitting on July 1 as an Assembly member, setting off a wave of resignations that swamped the ruling coalition, putting the government in jeopardy.