Karnataka Assembly trust vote updates: No floor test today; Speaker adjourns House till 11 am tomorrow

BJP to hold overnight dharna inside Assembly

BJP MLAs will sit on an over night ‘dharna’ in the state Assembly over to demand that the Speaker reply to Governor Vajubhai Vala’s letter and hold a floor test, ANI reported

No floor test today: Speaker adjourns House till 11 am tomorrow

Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar adjourned the Karnataka Assembly till 11 am on Friday. The BJP is refusing to leave House and is reportedly planning to stay inside the premises overnight.

Congress accuses BJP of trying to ‘abduct’ democracy

The Congress lashed out at the BJP at a press conference over the situation in Karnataka. “BJP and its leaders are trying a broad-day abduction of democracy in Karnataka by using money and muscle power to tarnish the democratically elected Karnataka government,” said Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala.

With BJP’s desperation to subvert Constitutional norms and to usurp power at all costs, it may end up, inadvertently, achieving the opposite objective.

The Decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court has created more questions than it has answered.

Our Statement: pic.twitter.com/DklXjzFboR

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) July 18, 2019

Congress MLA says governor shouldn’t interfere in House proceedings

“Governor shall not interfere in the proceedings of session as per the Constitution. I request governor to not to intervene in the proceedings of the session,” said MLA HK Patil in the Assembly.

Karnataka Congress MLA HK Patil in assembly: Governor shall not interfere in the proceedings of session as per the constitution. I request governor to not to intervene in the proceedings of the session. pic.twitter.com/cZZC5SvVcC

— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2019

Yeddyurappa says session should be extended till midnight for trust vote

“Even if it is midnight, let the trust vote be held today,” Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa said in the Assembly.

Governor asks Speaker to conduct trust vote today after BJP submits memorandum

Governor Vajubhai Vala has asked Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar to conduct the trust vote on Thursday itself. Vala’s statement to Speaker said, “Motion of confidence is in consideration at the House. The chief minister is expected to maintain confidence of the House at all times. Consider trust vote by the end of the day.” The Congress is reportedly against the direction, saying that there is no provision to allow the governor to direct a Speaker in this regard.

BJP requests governor to direct Speaker to continue debate on vote of confidence

A BJP delegation submitted a memorandum to Governor Vajubhai Vala on the motion of confidence. Speaking to reporters, BJP leader Jagadish Shettar said, “The chief minister had fixed today (Thursday) for the vote of confidence, but when the motion was moved and the debate started, Siddaramaiah, Krishna Byre Gowda, and HK Patil moved point of orders. We have requested the governor to direct the Speaker to continue the debate on vote of confidence,” he said.

Jagadish Shettar, BJP: CM had fixed today for vote of confidence but when the motion was moved & debate started, Siddaramaiah, Krishna Byre Gowda, & HK Patil moved point of orders. We have requested Governor to direct the Speaker to continue the debate on vote of confidence. pic.twitter.com/FgNdFWlksO

— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2019

Shrimant Patil shifted to Mumbai’s St George Hospital from Bombay Hospital

Maharashtra: Karnataka Congress MLA Shrimant Patil has been shifted to Mumbai's St. George Hospital from Bombay Hospital and Medical Research Centre for further treatment. pic.twitter.com/M6fTMwKruN

— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2019

‘Step down CM’: BJP claims Congress-JD(S) holding on to power without majority

The Karnataka BJP continued its demand for the HD Kumaraswamy’s resignation. “According to the Constitution, any government that doesn’t have majority should step down. In Karnataka, Congress and JDS are holding on to power without majority. In their greed for power, they have disrespected the Constitution of this nation,” it said.

Karnataka Assembly adjourned till 4.30 pm

Speaker asks home minister to submit report on MLA Shrimant Patil’s ‘abduction’

Amid chaos in the Assembly over Patil being flown to Mumbai for treatment, Speaker directed Home Minister MB Patil to get in touch with Patil’s family and submit a report by Friday. “It does not look natural. If the home minister can’t ensure protection, I will talk to DGP,” he said. “Our procedure is — you have to go to a government hospital when there is an emergency; medical board has to certify (the treatment). How do I know if this hospital in Mumbai exists?”

Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar during trust vote debate: What kind of a Speaker I would be if I proceed with document (letter sent by Congress MLA Shrimant Patil informing about his ill health) which has no date or letterhead. pic.twitter.com/SgFJSKgkkZ

— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2019

Speaker says Shrimant Patil asked for permission to skip Assembly

Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar told the Assembly that he has seen MLA Shrimant Patil’s medical report. “He took permission from me to skip Assembly. I won’t use words like abduct (in report to Congress allegations). Aren’t you all aware that people are watching you?” He also said that Patil’s letter about his ill health did not have any date or letterhead.

Reports say BJP to meet governor later today against deliberate delay on trust vote 

CNN-News18 is reporting that the BJP leaders have sought time to meet the Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala. The party will raise the issue of the Speaker and ruling coalition deliberately delaying the trust vote process. The party apparently wants the governor to se a timeframe within which the trust vote should be completed.

Dinesh Gundu Rao alleges BJP conspiracy in Shrimant Patil being flown to Mumbai for treatment

As the Assembly discussed Shrimant Patil, senior Congress leader said, “There was hospital right next to resort where our MLAs are staying. Why was he (MLA Shrimant Patil) flown to Chennai and then to Mumbai for treatment? He is healthy, nothing is wrong with him. It’s a conspiracy by BJP.”

DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah claim they have  evidence to prove BJP behind ‘abduction’ of Congress MLA Shrimant Patil 

DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah have made explosive claims in the Assembly, stating that they have evidence that BJP is behind the ‘abduction’ of Congress MLA Shrimant Patil.

Karnataka Floor Test Latest Update:  BJP mulls moving No Confidence motion as JD(S)-Congress seem to drag feet on trust vote

Reports say that the BJP is considering the possibility of moving a No Confidence motion against the government if the Speaker does not conclude the trust vote soon. The party may also try approaching the governor and ask him to impose a time limit on the Speaker, within which to conduct the trust vote.

Chaos in Assembly as Congress flashes pictures of Shrimant Patil, alleges MLA was kidnapped 

Chaos broke out in Karnataka after Congress leader DK Shivakumar alleged that Congress MLA Shrimat Patil, who went missing from Bengaluru resort on Wednesday, was kidnapped by the BJP leaders. The Congress leaders flashed Patil’s picture, who turned up in a Mumbai hospital today, undergoing treatment for chest pain.

HD Revanna arrived at Karnataka Assembly barefoot

Karnataka minister HD Revanna arrived at the Karnataka Assembly barefoot ahead of the trust vote on the Congress-JD(S) coalition government. 

#WATCH: Karnataka Minister & son of H D Deve Gowda, H D Revanna arrived barefoot at the state Assembly, for trust vote debate, today. (Earlier visuals) #Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/YP4wZ0XD7q

— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2019

What is the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution?

The Tenth Schedule, which was inserted in the Constitution by the Constitution (Fifty-Second Amendment) Act, 1985, popularly known as the “anti-defection law”, provides for the disqualification of Members of Parliament and state legislatures who defect.

Paragraph 2 of the Schedule says that “a member of a House belonging to any political party shall be disqualified from being a member of the House… if he has voluntarily given up his membership of such political party; or if he votes or abstains from voting in such House contrary to any direction issued by the political party… without obtaining… prior permission…"

Siddaramaiah says floor test can’t be held without clarification on SC order

SC order has discussed about my rights as Congress Legislative Party leader to issue whip but I was not a respondent to present my concerns. As the outcome of anti-defection law has its implications on no-confidence motion, I would like to request to postpone the motion till we get clarification from the Supreme Court.

DK Shivakumar spotted bantering with BJP’s B Sriramulu in Assembly during lunch break

#BIGNEWS: Did Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar openly offer BJP MLA B Sriramulu Deputy CM post? Take a look.#TrustVote #KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis pic.twitter.com/hNOb1nyrd5

— News9 (@News9Tweets) July 18, 2019

Speaker applies whip on all MLAs, Siddaramaiah gives 45-minute long speech on Point of Order, 20 MLAs skip proceedings, a recap of today’s proceedings

The discussion over the length of discussion on Motion of Trust became a major point of contention today as the BJP appeared clearly desperate to leverage its position of majority while the Congress-JD(S) seemed adamant to buy more time with the ruling party leaders poised to make lengthy speeches. 

Siddaramaiah alone spoke for over 45 minutes, while he had risen to speak merely to introduce a point of order. The BJP leaders objected to this, with several rounds of heated exchanges taking place in between. The party was apparently in majority as of today, with 20 MLAs skipping the proceedings, which brought down the quorum to 2014.

The Speaker, meanwhile, ruled that he will not interfere with Congress leader’s right to issue a whip to his party members, stating that a whip applies on all MLAs. This indicated that the speaker might be in favour of disqualifying the rebel MLAs if the Congress approached him for the same.

Can’t hold floor test without clarification on SC order, says Siddaramaiah

Siddaramaiah  said that the Supreme Court order influences MLAs who are not attending the House and the proceedings. “When a vote of confidence is taken up, they will not be here. This is a huge setback for the coalition. I seek clarification on this.”

Siddaramaiah has also said that it will not be correct to take up the vote of confidence till there is clarity on this matter.

Assembly adjourned till 3 pm after Congress-JD(S)-BJP’s heated debate on Motion of Trust

The Karataka Assembly has been adjourned. The House will meet again at 3 pm.

List of MLAs absent from the Karnataka Assembly today

​

1. Byrathi Basavaraj 
2. Munirathna
3. ST Somashekar
4. Ramesh Jarkiholi 
5. Roshan Baig 
6. Srimanth Patil 
7. Anand Singh 
8. B Nagendra  
9. R Shankar 
10. K Gopalaiah 
11. Narayana Gowda 
12. MTB Nagaraj 
13. BC Patil 
14. H Vishwanath 
15. Mahesh Kumthahalli 
16. Prathap Gouda Patil 
17. Dr Sudhakar 
18. Shivaram Hebbar
19. N Mahesh
20. Nagesh

Reports say Congress-JD(S) likely to stretch discussion till Monday to buy more time 

CNN-News18 reports quoting sources that the Congress-JD(S) strategy is to stretch the discussion at least till end of the day, Friday so that it gets the time over weekend to win back some of its rebel MLAs.

Karnataka Floor Test Latest Update:  How the numbers stack up right now?

According to The News Minute , 20 MLAs are not present in the Assembly. These include 15 rebel MLAs, two Independents, two Congress MLAs and the lone BSP MLA. The strength of the House, thus, is 204. The new majority mark, as things stand, is 103. The BJP has 105 MLAs. All of the saffron party’s MLAs are present.

Karnataka Floor Test Latest Update:  Yeddyurappa demands trust vote should take place immideately 

BS Yeddyurappa has said that the trust vote should be taken up without delay as there is no need for prolonged discussion on the issue, when the chief minister himself has admitted he does not have the desired support to remain in power,.

Karnataka Floor Test Latest Update:  Speaker drops hint he may disqualify rebel MLAs, says whip will be applicable on all MLAs 

Karnataka Speaker Ramesh Kumar has allowed for a whip to be applied on all MLAs in the Karnataka legislative Assembly. “This house holds the Supreme Court in the highest esteem. Simultaneously, let me make it abundantly clear to the CLP leader that this office is not restraining you (him) from doing or exercising any of (his) authorities. I have no role to play in that,” the Speaker said. 

This means that even the rebel MLAs are bound by party whip, which means that if they fail to broker peace with their party they may face disqualification. Once disqualified, the MLAs cannot get a ministerial berth through the legislative assembly route, they will have to contest polls once again to get re-elected to the House.

Constitutional experts argue SC order allowing rebel MLAs to defy whip contradicts Constitution’s 10th Schedule 

In an article on Livelaw , Manu Sebastian has written that this second part of the order effectively conflicts with the Tenth Schedule, as it effectively authorises the rebel MLAs to disregard the party whip.

But that point aside, lawyer Gautam Bhatia further argues that the order comes up notably short when compared to the basic tenet of making it hardest for political parties to subvert democracy. In a blog post, he states: “The Court’s attempted “balance” is to give both parties freedom to act: the Speaker has the freedom to decide on the petitions, while the rebel MLAs have the freedom not to attend the proceedings of the House. However, on closer scrutiny, this balance is not a balance at all, as the second part of the order – on the issue of attending the proceedings of the House – effectively and presumptively holds the resignations to be valid until and unless the Speaker decides otherwise. This is because it is only if the resignations were valid would the party whip – and thereby the Tenth Schedule – cease to apply. In all other circumstances, the rebel MLAs defiance of the whip would be subject to disqualification under the Tenth Schedule.”

‘Congress misusing floor of house to buy time, party making statements fit for election rallies’ says BJP’s  Jagadish Shettar 

BJP leader Jagadish objected to Siddaramaiah making a lengthy speech while raising a point of order and asked the speaker to make CLP be specific. He said that Siddaramaiah is misusing the platform to say things that are more suitably discussed in a public meeting or an election rally just to delay the vote.

Karnataka Floor Test Latest Update:  21 MLAs absent from Karnataka Assembly as house debates Motion of Trust  

Apart from  the 15 rebel MLAs and 2 independents, Congress MLAs Nagendra and Srimanth B Patil have also abstained from attending the Assembly session. BSP MLA N Mahesh is also not present in the House during trust motion. One BJP MLA is also missing from the Assembly session, News 18 reported.

Meanwhile… two more Congress MLAs missing from House 

Apart from  the 15 rebel MLAs and 2 independents, Congress MLAs Nagendra and Srimanth B Patil have also abstained from attending the Assembly session. BSP MLA N Mahesh is also not present in the House during trust motion.

Karnataka Floor Test Latest Update:  ‘Missing’ Congress MLA Shrimant Patil lands up in Mumbai hospital with complaint of chest pain 

The political drama unfolding in Karnataka is far from over. Congress MLA Shrimant Balasaheb Patil, who had gone ‘missing’ from the Windflower Prakruthi Resort in Bengaluru ahead of the crucial floor test in Karnataka Assembly on Thursday, was today found in Mumbai. He is currently admitted to a hospital in Mumbai after he complained of chest pain.

#Mumbai: Karnataka Congress MLA Shrimant Patil who was staying with other Congress MLAs at Windflower Prakruthi Resort in Bengaluru, reached Mumbai last night, currently admitted to a hospital in Mumbai after he complained of chest pain. pic.twitter.com/wojgD6R443

— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2019

Speaker restores order in house, says Siddaramaiah making a case for his contention 

Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar has said that he appreciates that Siddaramaiah is only making a case for the point of order he intends to intriduce. He said that he will Opposition members also the chance to speak.

Karnataka Floor Test Latest Update:  Ruckus over Siddaramaiah’s ’lengthy’ prologue on a Point of Order, MLAs term it ‘delaying tactics’

BJP members have taken objection to what they call delaying tactics by Siddaramaiah. The MLAs said that Siddaramaiah cannot take an entire day to introduce one point of order just to save his government. Loud protests and angry exchanges from both sides follow.

Karnataka Floor Test Latest Update:  Siddaramaiah pitches for democratic reforms in prologue to point of order; come to the point, says BJP  

Congress’ Siddaramaiah rose to speak with a poin of order but after citing the rule he veered off to recounting an incident when a MLA had defected political parties thrice in a single day. He then spoke about Gandhian principles in a democracy, batting for reforms in politics of defections. The BJP leaders loudly objected to this stating that this was merely a delaying tactics as Siddaramaiah has not yet mentioned what was the point of order that he wanted to raise.

After HDK, Siddaramaiah speaks in Assembly

Congress Legislative Party leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah has risen to speak in the Assembly. Siddaramaiah recounts an incident when a MLA had defected political parties thrice in a single day.

Karnataka Floor Test Latest Update:  Want to tell everyone, who is destabilising Karnataka govt, says HD Kumaraswamy 

I want to bring out to the notice of the entire country, who is behind the destabilising this government time and again, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said ahead of the floor test in Vidhana Soudha.

Karnataka Floor Test Latest Update:  Lets discuss all issues threadbare, says HD Kumaraswamy as he gives his speech on Motion of Trust 

It seems Opposition leader is in urgency. There should be a discussion. Why have we reached this stage today? I don’t want to discuss what the Supreme Court has said. I can’t say that you have to finish discussion within a particular time frame. Lets discuss all issues threadbare now that we are here, so that the entire country gets to know how this government managed to fucntion under such circumstances when the BJP was constantly trying to unseat it.

Karnataka Trust Vote Latest Update:  BS Yeddyurappa, HDK engage in back and forth over length of debate on Motion of Trust 

BS Yeddyurappa, the BJP’s president in state and the chief minister hopeful rose to speak before the Motion of Trust was tabled. He said that he would request the Speaker to allot time to MLAs judicially so that the trust vote is held today itself. 

When HD Kumaraswamy rose to speak, he countered this by stating that it was important that each and every MLA gets a chance to clarify their position. “But why are you in such a hurry to conduct the trust vote,” Kumaraswamy asked Yeddyurappa.

Karnataka Floor Test Latest Update: BSP MLA to abstain from floor test

In an important development, that partially seems to favour the BJP as of now, the lone Bahujan Samaj  Party MLA has said he will abstain from participating in the floor test. The Times of India quoted N Mahesh as saying that he will not be participating in the Assembly proceedings. 

This will in part favour BJP as the BSP MLA had earlier extended outside support to the Congress-JD(S) coallition earlier.

Congress-JD(S) banks on buying more time, govt’s fate in hands of fickle turncoats, volatile Independent MLAs  

Speculations suggest that it is in Congress-JD(S)’ favour if the Motion of Trust is not put to vote today, The alliance government is banking on turning the two Independent MLAs who remain in Bengaluru and who had earlier stated that they will not support the government. The government is also trying hard to convince more rebel MLAs, especially those who have a history of changing sides frequently, to vote for it when the motion is put to vote.

HD Kumaraswamy, Speaker KR Ramesh arrive in Assembly; proceedings to start shortly

Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and Speaker KR Ramesh have reached Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru moments before the Motion of Trust will be laid on the table. The proceedings are expected to start at 11 am.

Experts say Speaker not bound to put Motion of Confidence to vote today; Congress may buy extra time to convince more MLAs 

Political pundits and constitutional experts opined that the Speaker is not bound to put to vote the Motion of Confidence to vote today itself. A debate will be held first, after introducing the motion and the debate can continue throughout the day, if enough number of MLAs express a desire to speak for, or against the motion.

Past precedents from Karnataka, and elsewhere, show that time is of great essence when the political slugfest to retain/ grab power boils down to sheer numbers in the House. The Congress, which got a chance to nominate its member as the speaker at the start of the government’s term, might squeeze in a chance to buy more time to rope in the usual volatile faces to its side.

BS Yeddyurappa, Siddaramaiah reach Vidhan Soudha ahead of trust vote 

Key leaders have started arriving at the Vidhan Soudha premises ahead of the 11 am trust vote. Siddaramaiah, BS Yeddyurappa were seen entering the premises.  

Bengaluru: Congress leader Siddaramaiah arrives at Vidhana Soudha; Karnataka government to face floor test today. pic.twitter.com/40l1z9MvZ6

— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2019

Karnataka: BJP State President BS Yeddyurappa & BJP MLAs arrive at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. Karnataka government will be facing floor test today. pic.twitter.com/MBvwjqz7L4

— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2019

BJP confident of govt losing trust vote, but maintains cautious silence on its future course of action

The BJP is banking on Karnataka coallition government losing the trust vote, after to stake claim to form the government, replacing the Speaker after giving 14 days notice and then annulling the disqualification process initiated against the truant MLAs named by the Congress and JD(S).

Official BJP sources told CNN-News18 that the party is confident of defeating the Congress-JD(S) coalition in today’s trust vote. “Delaying tactics won’t help the HDK govt. We are prepared for more delays even today,” a source said, adding that the question of staking claim doesn’t arrive at the moment since the party has 105 MLAS, along with the support of independents.

How will the trust vote proceed?

The Assembly proceedings will begin at 11.00 am today. 

• Firstly, a discussion on the confidence motion is likely to be held
• The Speaker will then put the motion to vote. 
• Once the voting procedure begins, no member will be allowed to enter or leave the hall
• Apart from the regular voting by electronic device, the Speaker may seek a division of votes by row. This will be held for both, for and against the motion.

Section 144 imposed within 2km radius of Vidhan Soudha ahead of trust vote, say reports

India Today TV reports that the Bengaluru police has decided to impose restrictions under Section 144 around 2 kilometre radius of the Vidhan Soudha. The state Assembly is expected to witness a high-drama trust vote at 11 am today

What is a floor test?

Floor test is a term used for the test of the majority. If there are doubts against the chief minister, the governor can ask him to prove his majority in the House. In case of a coalition government, the chief minister may be asked to move a vote of confidence and win a majority.

Congress leader claims many Congress rebels will vote for govt, says Congress-JD(S) will pass trust vote 

The Trust Vote proceedings begin in Karnataka Assembly today.

Numbers as of now:

INC + JDS : 102
BJP + Independents : 107
Majority needed : 106

-> 2 Independents are highly volatile
-> Many @INCIndia MLAs to come back and support the vote taking it above majority

— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) July 18, 2019

I am sorry, please return: CM’s brother HD Revanna, accused of interfering in other departments, issues apology to MLAs ahead of trust vote 

Public Works Department Minister HD Revanna, who has been accused of interfering in decisions beyond his department, on Wednesday appealed to the rebel legislators — now holed up in a hotel in Mumbai — to return.

“I have not hurt any legislator. If I have hurt, I apologise. If I have committed mistake please come back. I am willing to apologise,” he told press persons in Bengaluru on Wednesday, adding: “I have not intervened in transfers in any other department. My work and influence is restricted to Hassan district and Public Works Department.”

Kumaraswamy warns three rebel JD(S) MLAs of disqualification 

Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister Parameshwara consulted with Congress MLAs yesterday. Kumaraswamy has reportdly ordered three dissident MLAs from the Janata Dal (secular) to attend the confidence vote.

He warned that if they did not participate in the proceedings or voted against the state, action would be taken under the Prohibition Act.

Rebel Karnataka MLAs still bound by Assembly rules, must take permission ito remain absent from Assembly, clarifies Speaker KR Ramesh 

The JD(S)- Congress leaders sought clarification from the Speaker whether the members were still bound by the rules of Karnataka Legislative Assembly on the permission required to remain absent from the House, and also the right of the parties to issue whip-both clarification necessitated due to court order.

“Speaker has clarified that the members were bound to adhere to the rules of the Assembly and had to seek permission to remain absent,” Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Krishna Byre Gowda was quoted as saying by  The Hindu .

Karnataka Speaker vows to carry out duties in line with constitution 

“With utmost humility I welcome and respect the Supreme Court decision,” he said soon after the apex court pronounced its order on the crisis that has pushed the state into a welter of political confusion and chaos. “The Supreme Court has put extra burden on me, I will conduct myself responsibly in accordance with constitutional principle,” Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh told reporters in Kolar, his home town.

The Speaker has, however, not given any indications about the time frame within which he would decide on the resignations.

HDK’s brother HD Revanna appeals to rebel legislators to return

“I have not hurt any legislator. If I have hurt, I apologise. If I have committed mistake please come back. I am willing to apologise,” The Hindu quoted Revanna as saying. 

Earlier, Revanna was in news for seeking divine intervention for his government as he was spotted visiting multiple temples in the wake of the drama that started on 6 July with 15 MLAs submitting their resignations.

Hours before floor test, rebel Congress MLA Ramalinga Reddy says he will withdraw resignation, vote in favour of govt 

In some relief to the embattled coalition government in Karnataka, Congress MLA Ramalinga Reddy on Wednesday said he has decided to withdraw his resignation from the Assembly and will vote in favour of the trust vote to be sought by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. 

While most of the rebel MLAs have been staying in Mumbai, Reddy chose to be in the city amid reports that Congress was trying to pacify him. The party had also left him out while moving the Assembly Speaker for disqualification of the rebel MLAs, saying he was an “exception.” Reddy, too, had maintained he would remain in Congress and he has resigned only from the Assembly.

Karnataka Assembly to witness trust vote on Congress-JD(S) govt today

The Congress-JDS government in Karnataka is hanging by a thread ahead of the floor test on Thursday with the rebel MLAs refusing to yield after the Supreme Court’s ruling in their favour.The court verdict was interpreted in political circles as a relief for the rebel lawmakers, as it categorically said that an option should be given to them as to whether they wanted to take part or stay out of the Assembly proceedings.