With Speaker’s Help, Karnataka Stalemate May End on Monday

With Congress leader occupying the Karnataka Speaker’s position in the State Assembly, the State Government being run by JDS-Congress government was given another reprieve on Saturday.

Ignoring the Governor’s advise to conduct confidence motion on Friday itself,  Karnataka Assembly Speaker on Saturday postponed the proceeding to Monday, offering the ruling Kumaraswamy-led coalition government two more days to prove majority on the floor of the House.

The House was adjourned adjourn the House till Monday.  It will reconvene at 1100 AM to continue the discussion on confidence motion moved by the Chief Minister Kumaraswamy.

Governor Vajubhai Vala had on Friday directed for the second time to take up the trust vote by the end of the day, hours after his previous deadline of 1:30 pm was ignored.

Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar concluded the day on Friday after marathon speeches by coalition leaders. It was done in spite of former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa saying his lawmakers could wait for a vote even if speeches lasted till midnight.

Soon after the adjournment Karnataka BJP chief Yeddyurappa stated he would wait till Monday to decide the next course of action.

Yeddyurappa also said he will not approach the Governor once again and he has submitted a report to the Central Government.

Kumaraswamy and Congress moved the Supreme Court on Friday, accusing Governor Vala of interfering with the Assembly proceedings during the debate on trust vote, and sought clarification on its 17 July directive causing hindrance in issuing whip to the legislators.

On Friday,  Kumaraswamy and the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Dinesh Gundu Rao filed another application in Supreme Court. The applications have sought clarification of July 17 order of the apex court by which the 15 rebel Congress-JDS, MLAs were granted relief that they cannot be compelled to participate in the ongoing Assembly proceedings.