Karnataka Assembly Floor Test LATEST Updates: Two rebel Congress MLAs, Ramesh Jarkhiholi and Mahesh Kumathalli, who were disqualified by the ex-Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar on 25 July, have approached the Supreme Court challenging their disqualification. In the petition to the apex court, they called Kumar decision “wholly illegal, arbitrary and mala fide”.
The petition also mentions that Kumar had "accepted the resignation of another MLA — Dr Umesh Jadhav — in April this year. This shows that pendency of disqualification proceedings against an MLA was not a bar to the acceptance of his resignation, the petition contends," Bar and Bench reported.
Thanking the senior leaders of the Karnataka Assembly after he submitted his resignation as the Speaker on Monday, KR Ramesh Kumar also said that elections were "the root of the corruption in the country".
He said, "I request the House to discuss the issue of electoral reforms and send a resolution to the Parliament. We must also think of political parties."
Congress leader Siddaramaiah in the debate on the trust vote in the Karnataka Assembly on Monday said that it was "unfortunate" that BS Yediyurappa had "never been chief minister with the people's mandate".
"Where is the mandate? You didn't have it in 2008, 2018 or even now. When he took oath there were 222 MLAs in House, where did BJP have 112 MLAs for majority? They had 105 seats. That is not a mandate."
He added, "We hope you (BS Yediyurappa) will be the chief minister but there is no guarantee of that. You are with the rebels, can you give a stable government? It's impossible!"
Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa won the trust vote in the Karnataka Assembly on Monday.
Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah addressed the Karnataka Assembly after Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa moved a confidence motion on the BJP government in the House on Monday.
He said, "We discussed HD Kumaraswamy's confidence motion over four days. I too participated in that and I don't wish to speak about it. I could've spoken about circumstances under which Yediyurappa has become the chief minister. I wish him well and welcome his assurance that he'll work for people."
"We're elected to work for the people and we must try to do that. I attempted this as the chief minister and so did HD Kumaraswamy. Yediyurappa said the administration has come to a stand-still and he wants to rectify that. It wasn't the case. In the coalition, we worked towards bringing to force the common minimum program."
Siddaramaiah concluded, "I oppose this confidence motion because this government is unconstitutional and immoral."
Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa moved the confidence motion on his government in the Karnataka Assembly on Monday. Making a pitch to the Opposition led by former coalition partners Congress and JD(S), he said, "When Siddaramaiah and HD Kumaraswamy were chief ministers, they didn't indulge in vindictive politics. The administration has failed and we'll set it right. I assure the House that we won't indulge in vindictive politics either. I believe in forget and forgive."
He added, "Forget and forgive is something I believe in. I love the people who oppose me as well. I want to thank Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and JP Nadda."
Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Monday tweeted regarding the disqualifications of the Congress and JD(S) rebel MLAs and questioned the BJP's objections to Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh's decision to suspend the legislators. The saffron party called the Speaker's move "violative" of the law on Sunday.
Siddaramaiah asked why the BJP was having "heartburn" over the disqualifications of Congress and JD(S) MLAs. "Why should BJP have heartburn if the Congress and JD(S) parties disqualify party legislators? Why this concern over them?
He added, "The Congress and JD(S) have suffered the loss of power. The defeated legislators are disadvantaged and incapacitated. The BJP benefited from all this. It is time for unqualified lawmakers to wake up."
The Congress legislative party (CLP) meeting, chaired by senior party leader Siddaramaiah, has begun at the Vidhana Soudha ahead of the confidence motion to be moved by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dinesh Gundu Rao, KJ George, Priyank Kharge, MB Patil, Eshwar Khandre and other Congress MLAs are also present.
Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa visited the Sri Bala Vera Anjaneya temple in Bengaluru on Monday morning, ahead of the confidence motion on his government in the Karnataka Assembly.
Five of the rebel Congress MLAs who were disqualified by Karnataka Speaker on Sunday also returned to Bengaluru on Monday morning ahead of the anticipated confidence motion. The MLAs, who have returned after camping out in a Mumbai hotel for almost a month, include Byrathi Basavaraj, MTB Nagaraj, ST Somashekhar.
Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday said that he would move the confidence motion in the Vidhana Soudha on Monday. He was briefing media persons after presiding over the BJP's Legislative Party meeting in the state.
"Today in our Legislative Party meeting we have discussed tomorrow's programme in the Assembly in detail. Tomorrow I will move the confidence motion in the House. After that I will introduce the finance bill as well," he said. "I think both the Congress and the JDS are going to support us in this matter," he added.
In a bid to keep its flock intact, the Karnataka BJP decided to lodge its MLAs at the hotel Chancery Pavilion on Sunday night, just ahead of the vote of confidence in Vidhana Soudha.
The BJP's legislative party meeting took place late on Sunday evening at the hotel and was chaired by Yediyurappa. After the meeting concluded, the BJP announced its decision to keep its lawmakers at the hotel for the night.
Briefing about the meeting, Ravi Kumar, BJP's state unit secretary, said: "Apart from our 105 MLAs, we have also the support of one or two independent MLAs. We are confident of proving our majority on the floor of Assembly." He added, "The BJP will also request the JD(S) and the Congress to support in getting the finance bill passed."
"Many topics were discussed in the meeting. We have to prove the majority tomorrow. So all MLAs were called in for the meeting," said Sriramulu, BJP MLA. The new BJP government is scheduled to face the vote of confidence in the House on Monday, for which the session is being convened.
In a significant move, Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar on Sunday disqualified, with immediate effect, 14 rebel ex-MLAs, days after the Congress-JD(S) government collapsed after losing the confidence motion. This is in addition to the three dissident MLAs he had disqualified last week.
Yediyurappa had taken charge as chief minister on Friday, hours after he was sworn in by Governor Vajubhai Vala. Ahead of the vote of confidence in the Legislative Assembly, Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar on Saturday issued a prohibitory order to impose Section 144 within a two-kilometre radius of the Vidhana Soudha from 6 am on 29 July to midnight of 30 July.
Section 144 prohibits an assembly of more than four people in an area.
Updated Date: Jul 29, 2019 14:48:40 IST
Highlights
Karnataka Assembly adjourned till 5 pm
The Karnataka Assembly has been adjourned till 5 pm on Monday, after Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar tendered his resignation.
KR Ramesh Kumar thanks senior leaders for support in Karnataka Assembly
In former Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar's farewell speech, he thanked senior leaders across parties for their "support", in particular Siddaramaiah, HD Kumaraswamy and BS Yediyurappa.
"I have worked as per the Constitution, keeping the people in mind. When certain political developments occur, we need to take decisions carefully. We are small people and I am lucky that I was fortunate to occupy this Chair. Our decisions should not in any way bring disrepute to the Chair," he was quoted as The Hindu as saying.
He added, "I request the House to discuss the issue of electoral reforms and send a resolution to the Parliament. We must also think of political parties."
HD Kumaraswamy says 'need to answer conscience'
Former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy weighed in on the trust vote moved by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa in the Assembly on Monday. He responded to Yediyurappa's comment that the state administration had been at a standstill for the last year.
"I ran the government for 14 months. I have no obligation to answer your (BS Yediyurappa) questions. I need to answer to my conscience. From past 14 months, everything was being recorded. People know what work I have done," Kumaraswamy said.
BS Yediyurappa wins trust vote, House to be adjourned soon
Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa has won the trust vote in the Karnataka Assembly on Monday. After Congress and JD(S) leaders Siddaramaiah and HD Kumaraswamy made their arguments against the BJP government, but said that they would evaluate how the government worked for the people of the state, the newly-appointed government won the trust vote by voice note.
Coalition governed 'cleanly for 14 months: Siddaramaiah
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah asserted that the Congress and JD(S) coalition had been "accepted" by the people of Karnataka. He said, "We have given clean and transparent governance in 14 months."
He also claimed that the BJP government will "collapse at any moment".
Speaker's decision to disqualify rebel MLAs comes as BJP deliberates 'no confidence' motion against him
Karnataka Speaker's sudden move regarding the disqualifications of the MLAs came amid indications from the BJP that it was mulling moving a no-confidence against him if he doesn't voluntarily give up the post when the Assembly meets on Monday.
Congress Legislature Party on confidence motion underway
The Congress Legislature Party has convened ahead of the confidence motion on the BS Yediyurappa government to discuss the party's strategy, less than a week after the coalition government in which it was a partner collapsed.
BS Yediyurappa arrives at Vidhan Soudha
Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa has arrived at the Vidhan Soudha for the confidence motion on his BJP government in the Karnataka Assembly on Monday.
Siddaramaiah chairs CLP strategy meeting on confidence motion on BSY govt today
The Congress legislative party (CLP) meeting, chaired by senior party leader Siddaramaiah, has begun at the Vidhana Soudha ahead of the confidence motion to be moved by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dinesh Gundu Rao, KJ George, Priyank Kharge, MB Patil, Eshwar Khandre and other Congress MLAs are also present.
BS Yediyurappa visits temple ahead of confidence motion in Karnataka Assembly
Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa visited the Sri Bala Vera Anjaneya temple in Bengaluru on Monday morning, ahead of the confidence motion on his government in the Karnataka Assembly.
Five disqualified MLAs return to Bengaluru from Mumbai
Five of the rebel Congress MLAs who were disqualified by Karnataka Speaker on Sunday returned to Bengaluru on Monday morning ahead of the anticipated confidence motion by the BS Yediyurappa government in the state Assembly.
The MLAs, who have returned after camping out in a Mumbai hotel for almost a month, include Byrathi Basavaraj, MTB Nagaraj, ST Somashekhar.
Congress, JD(S) will support us in passing finance bill: BS Yediyurappa
On Sunday, BS Yediyurappa expressed confidence about proving majority in the Karnataka Assembly. He also said that the finance bill prepared by the previous Congress-JD(S) government will be tabled by him in the Assembly on Monday, without any changes.
"I think both the Congress and the JDS are going to support us in this matter," he added.
LIVE NEWS and UPDATES
13:49 (IST)
Two rebel MLAs approach SC over disqualification
Two rebel Congress MLAs, Ramesh Jarkhiholi and Mahesh Kumathalli, who were disqualified by the ex-Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar on 25 July, have approached the Supreme Court challenging their disqualification. In the petition to the apex court, they called Kumar decision “wholly illegal, arbitrary and mala fide”.
The petition also mentions that Kumar had "accepted the resignation of another MLA — Dr Umesh Jadhav — in April this year. This shows that pendency of disqualification proceedings against an MLA was not a bar to the acceptance of his resignation, the petition contends," Bar and Bench reported.
12:51 (IST)
Karnataka Assembly adjourned till 5 pm
The Karnataka Assembly has been adjourned till 5 pm on Monday, after Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar tendered his resignation.
12:50 (IST)
Bills passed by Karnataka Assembly today
The Karnataka Assembly passed three bills unanimously, including the crucial finance bill, soon after Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa won the trust vote in the House on Monday. The House also passed the Appropriation Bill unanimously.
12:39 (IST)
KR Ramesh Kumar thanks senior leaders for support in Karnataka Assembly
In former Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar's farewell speech, he thanked senior leaders across parties for their "support", in particular Siddaramaiah, HD Kumaraswamy and BS Yediyurappa.
"I have worked as per the Constitution, keeping the people in mind. When certain political developments occur, we need to take decisions carefully. We are small people and I am lucky that I was fortunate to occupy this Chair. Our decisions should not in any way bring disrepute to the Chair," he was quoted as The Hindu as saying.
He added, "I request the House to discuss the issue of electoral reforms and send a resolution to the Parliament. We must also think of political parties."
12:31 (IST)
Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar tenders resignation after BS Yediyurappa wins trust vote
The Karnataka Speaker submitted his resignation from the post, soon after the BJP government, led by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, won the trust vote in the Assembly on Monday.
Kumar's move comes as there was speculation that the ruling party would move a no-confidence motion against him after forming the government.
12:15 (IST)
HD Kumaraswamy says 'need to answer conscience'
Former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy weighed in on the trust vote moved by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa in the Assembly on Monday. He responded to Yediyurappa's comment that the state administration had been at a standstill for the last year.
"I ran the government for 14 months. I have no obligation to answer your (BS Yediyurappa) questions. I need to answer to my conscience. From past 14 months, everything was being recorded. People know what work I have done," Kumaraswamy said.
12:00 (IST)
BS Yediyurappa has never been CM with people's mandate: Siddaramaiah
Congress leader Siddaramaiah in the debate on the trust vote in the Karnataka Assembly on Monday said that it was "unfortunate" that BS Yediyurappa had "never been chief minister with the people's mandate".
"Where is the mandate? You didn't have it in 2008, 2018 or even now. When he took oath there were 222 MLAs in House, where did BJP have 112 MLAs for majority? They had 105 seats. That is not a mandate."
He added, "We hope you (BS Yediyurappa) will be the chief minister but there is no guarantee of that. You are with the rebels, can you give a stable government? It's impossible!"
11:55 (IST)
BS Yediyurappa wins trust vote, House to be adjourned soon
Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa has won the trust vote in the Karnataka Assembly on Monday. After Congress and JD(S) leaders Siddaramaiah and HD Kumaraswamy made their arguments against the BJP government, but said that they would evaluate how the government worked for the people of the state, the newly-appointed government won the trust vote by voice note.
11:53 (IST)
BS Yediyurappa wins trust vote in Karnataka Assembly
11:46 (IST)
Coalition governed 'cleanly for 14 months: Siddaramaiah
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah asserted that the Congress and JD(S) coalition had been "accepted" by the people of Karnataka. He said, "We have given clean and transparent governance in 14 months."
He also claimed that the BJP government will "collapse at any moment".
11:35 (IST)
Siddaramaiah opposes BS Yediyurappa's confidence motion, says BJP 'will not succeed' in providing stable govt
Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah addressed the Karnataka Assembly after Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa moved a confidence motion on the BJP government in the House on Monday.
He said, "We discussed HD Kumaraswamy's confidence motion over four days. I too participated in that and I don't wish to speak about it. I could've spoken about circumstances under which Yediyurappa has become the chief minister. I wish him well and welcome his assurance that he'll work for people."
"We're elected to work for the people and we must try to do that. I attempted this as the chief minister and so did HD Kumaraswamy. Yediyurappa said the administration has come to a stand-still and he wants to rectify that. It wasn't the case. In the coalition, we worked towards bringing to force the common minimum program."
However, saying that the BJP would not be able to deliver a stable government to the people of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah concluded, "I oppose this confidence motion because this government is unconstitutional and immoral."
11:26 (IST)
BS Yediyurappa brings up agrarian distress in appeal to 'work together'
Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa said that he wants to "address farmer's issues" as he appealed to the Congress and JD(S) to extend support to the BJP government.
He said, "There is a drought. I want to address farmers' issues. I've decided to give two installments of Rs 2,000 to beneficiaries under the PM Kisan scheme from the state's side. I appeal to the Opposition that we must work together. I appeal to the House to unanimously express confidence in me."
11:18 (IST)
BS Yediyurappa moves confidence motion in Karnataka Assembly, says 'won't indulge in vindictive politics'
Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa moved the confidence motion on his government in the Karnataka Assembly on Monday.
Making a pitch to the Opposition led by former coalition partners Congress and JD(S), he said, "When Siddaramaiah and HD Kumaraswamy were chief ministers, they didn't indulge in vindictive politics. The administration has failed and we'll set it right. I assure the House that we won't indulge in vindictive politics either. I believe in forget and forgive."
He added, "Forget and forgive is something I believe in. I love the people who oppose me as well. I want to thank Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and JP Nadda."
11:06 (IST)
Speaker's decision on disqualification subject to judicial review
Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar's decision to disqualify the Congress and JD(S) rebel MLAs under the anti-defection law is likely to be challenged by the suspended legislators in the Supreme Court. Kumar directed that the disqualification is valid until the term of the current Assembly, which will end in May 2023.
"The Speaker's decision to oust the MLAs till 2023, primarily, runs counter to the Bombay High Court’s latest judgment in the Goa Assembly case wherein the High Court held it unequivocally that disqualification under Tenth Schedule cannot debar a legislator to go back to people and get re-elected during the term of the present Assembly," News18 reported.
10:59 (IST)
BJP says Speaker's decision is 'violative of law'
The BJP objected to the Karnataka Speaker's decision to disqualify the rebel MLAs and said it was "unfair and violative of the law". The party also said that the action had been taken "yielding to the pressure from a party".
"It is a motivated and defective order," said senior BJP leader Govind Karjol, adding, the rebels would challenge it in the Supreme Court, where they were certain to "get justice." The MLAs had quit on their own and their resignations should have been accepted, Karjol said.
10:57 (IST)
Speaker's decision to disqualify rebel MLAs comes as BJP deliberates 'no confidence' motion against him
Karnataka Speaker's sudden move regarding the disqualifications of the MLAs came amid indications from the BJP that it was mulling moving a no-confidence against him if he doesn't voluntarily give up the post when the Assembly meets on Monday.
10:55 (IST)
Karnataka Speaker says decision of disqualification taken with 'fear and responsibility'
On Sunday, Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar announced the disqualification of 14 Congress and JD(S) MLAs and said that he had taken the decision with "fear and responsibility".
Reading out the names of ex-MLAs, the Speaker said, "they cease to be MLAs with immediate effect till the expiry of the 15th assembly (in 2023)." He added, "With responsibility and fear I have taken this decision....The way I am being pressurised mentally as Speaker to deal with all these things, I am pushed into a sea of depression."
10:47 (IST)
Siddaramaiah questions BJP's 'heartburn' over rebel MLAs disqualifications after saffron party objects to Speaker's decision
Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Monday tweeted regarding the disqualifications of the Congress and JD(S) rebel MLAs and questioned the BJP's objections to Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh's decision to suspend the legislators. The saffron party called the Speaker's move "violative" of the law on Sunday.
Siddaramaiah asked why the BJP was having "heartburn" over the disqualifications of Congress and JD(S) MLAs. "Why should BJP have heartburn if the Congress and JD(S) parties disqualify party legislators? Why this concern over them?
He added, "The Congress and JD(S) have suffered the loss of power. The defeated legislators are disadvantaged and incapacitated. The BJP benefited from all this. It is time for unqualified lawmakers to wake up."
10:31 (IST)
Congress Legislature Party on confidence motion underway
The Congress Legislature Party has convened ahead of the confidence motion on the BS Yediyurappa government to discuss the party's strategy, less than a week after the coalition government in which it was a partner collapsed.
10:17 (IST)
BS Yediyurappa arrives at Vidhan Soudha
Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa has arrived at the Vidhan Soudha for the confidence motion on his BJP government in the Karnataka Assembly on Monday.
10:14 (IST)
Siddaramaiah chairs CLP strategy meeting on confidence motion on BSY govt today
The Congress legislative party (CLP) meeting, chaired by senior party leader Siddaramaiah, has begun at the Vidhana Soudha ahead of the confidence motion to be moved by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dinesh Gundu Rao, KJ George, Priyank Kharge, MB Patil, Eshwar Khandre and other Congress MLAs are also present.
10:07 (IST)
BS Yediyurappa to defend fourth stint as Karnataka chief minister in Assembly today
Newly appointed Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa said that he's "100 percent" confident of proving majority of his government during the confidence motion in the Karnataka Assembly on Monday.
Amid accusations and counter-accusations of horse-trading, the Congress-JD(S) coalition government collapsed last week. However, the BJP central leadership was "in no hurry" to form the government in the state.
But analysts argue that Yediyurappa's clout in the state as a veteran Lingayat leader informed BJP president Amit Shah's decision to appoint him as the chief minister despite the age bar.
Read the full report here
09:58 (IST)
How numbers are stacked in Karnataka Assembly
With the disqualification of the 14 MLAs and three other legislators, the effective strength of the 225-member Assembly has come down to 208, which also includes the Speaker.
Currently, BJP has 105 members supported by an Independent, while the Congress and JD(S) have 66 and 35 MLAs, respectively. The BSP has just one member in the House. Thus, for any party to prove its majority, the half-way mark has come down from 113 and 104, which is an advantage for BJP.
09:54 (IST)
Rebel MLAs to move SC today challenging extent of disqualification
Three disqualified Karnataka MLAs will move the Supreme Court on Monday to challenge Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar's decision to disqualify them under the anti-defection law. Kumar, while making the announcement of the disqualification, said that the ex-MLAs will not be able to contest bypolls till the end of the current Assembly's term, in May 2023.
Congress legislators Ramesh Jarakiholi and Mahesh Kumathalli and Independent R Shankar were disqualified by the Speaker on 25 June. Other 14 MLAs, who were disqualified by the Speaker on Sunday, are also likely to join their petition, ANI reported.
09:40 (IST)
BS Yediyurappa visits temple ahead of confidence motion in Karnataka Assembly
Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa visited the Sri Bala Vera Anjaneya temple in Bengaluru on Monday morning, ahead of the confidence motion on his government in the Karnataka Assembly.
09:37 (IST)
Five disqualified MLAs return to Bengaluru from Mumbai
Five of the rebel Congress MLAs who were disqualified by Karnataka Speaker on Sunday returned to Bengaluru on Monday morning ahead of the anticipated confidence motion by the BS Yediyurappa government in the state Assembly.
The MLAs, who have returned after camping out in a Mumbai hotel for almost a month, include Byrathi Basavaraj, MTB Nagaraj, ST Somashekhar.
09:34 (IST)
Disqualification of rebel MLAs unlikely to affect floor test on BS Yediyurappa
Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa, who is likely to move a confidence motion on his newly formed BJP government in the Assembly on Monday, is expected to be unaffected by the disqualifications of the 17 rebel Congress and JD(S) MLAs.
On Sunday, Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar disqualified 14 more rebel MLAs under the anti-defection law.
07:43 (IST)
Congress, JD(S) will support us in passing finance bill: BS Yediyurappa
On Sunday, BS Yediyurappa expressed confidence about proving majority in the Karnataka Assembly. He also said that the finance bill prepared by the previous Congress-JD(S) government will be tabled by him in the Assembly on Monday, without any changes.
"I think both the Congress and the JDS are going to support us in this matter," he added.
07:41 (IST)
BS Yediyurappa to move confidence motion in Karnataka Assembly today
Newly appointed Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa said he will move a confidence motion for the BJP government in the Assembly on Monday. The move is expected to prove the party's majority in the House to facilitate the passage of the finance bill, which has to be passed before 31 July.