Kumaraswamy wins trust vote in Karnataka amid BJP walkout
BENGALURU: The three-day-old Kumaraswamy government in Karnataka on Friday won a vote of confidence without a contest, with the BJP MLAS walking out of the Assembly before the floor test, in a tame end to the 10-day high-voltage political drama after the polls yielded a hung House.
It turned out to be smooth sailing for the 58-year- old H D Kumaraswamy, as BJP members trooped out of the House after Leader of the Opposition B S Yeddyurappa's blistering attack on the "unholy" Jd(s)congress coalition.
Kumaraswamy's motion seeking the confidence vote was declared passed by voice vote by Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar in the absence of the BJP MLAS. Kumaraswamy described the BJP walkout as "escapism".
The first signs of the BJP conceding defeat in the numbers game were visible when it pulled out its candidate Suresh Kumar from the race for the Speaker's post, saying it had decided to honour the parliamentary tradition that the presiding officer should be chosen unanimously.
Congress' Ramesh Kumar was elected the Speaker unopposed.
The Jd(s)-congress coalition had claimed the support of 117 MLAS in the 224-member House with an effective strength of 221.
While the Congress has 78 MLAS, Kumaraswamy's JD(S) has 36, and BSP 1. The alliance also claimed support of the lone KPJP MLA and an Independent.
But like on May 19, when Yeddyurappa failed to muster the support of as many lawmakers required to anchor his government's ship safely and stepped down, the BJP did not go for a showdown.
Seeking the trust vote, Kumaraswamy asserted the Congress-jd(s) coalition government would complete its five- year term while maintaining he was conscious that his party JD(S) does not have a majority on its own.
He, however, said the coalition government would be "stable for five years".
The chief minister said there was a "blot" on JD(S) supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda after he (Kumaraswamy) joined hands with the BJP to form a coalition government in 2006.
Kumaraswamy said he was now relieved as that "blot" on his father's reputation caused by his act of aligning with the BJP has been removed (with the formation of a secular government). Deve Gowda had strongly opposed Kumaraswamy's decision to form a coalition government with the BJP. He also said the government was committed to waiving farm loans, as promised during the elections.
Kumaraswamy accused the BJPled government at the Centre of using its agencies like the Income Tax department and the Enforcement Directorate against its political rivals.
Before staging a walkout, Yeddyurappa launched a stinging attack on Kumaraswamy, saying the chief minister was known for his acts of "betrayal".
The BJP under Yeddyurappa had propped up the Jd(s)-led government in 2006 as part of a power-sharing arrangement of rotational chief ministership. After Kumaraswamy had completed his 20-month term and Yeddyurappa's turn came to become the chief minister, the JD(S) withdrew support in seven days.
Yeddyurappa told the Congress members that Kumaraswamy and Deve Gowda would "finish" their party.
The former CM also amused the house as he confessed that his attempt to get the support of Congress and JDS lawmakers had failed as the Congress's DK Shivkumar had played "khalnayak (villain)".
Before his walkout, the Lingayat strongman warned the new government of "unrest" if farmer loans were not waived off by Monday.
BENGALURU: In a fierce attack on the coalition government headed by HD Kumaraswamy, BJP state chief BS Yeddyurappa on Friday termed it “unholy” and announced a state-wide bandh on Monday if farm loans worth Rs 53,000 crore were not waived by then.
In a combative mode, Yeddyurappa particularly targetted Kumaraswamy and his father, former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, often with personal attacks, and told the Congress members that “the father and sons will finish the Congress.”
Repeatedly taunting Congress members during his speech after the chief minister sought the vote of confidence in the assembly, Yeddyurappa alleged that the chief minister was known for “betrayals” and told them he had no objection “if you want to go in the sinking ship of Kumaraswamy.”
Yeddyurappa even went to the extent of saying, “our fight is not against the Congress but against the Gowda family...”
He said the Congress-jds coalition had defied the popular mandate and the government was on “daily wages.”
“This is an unholy coalition...”, Yeddyurappa said, adding, both the parties had joined hands only with the sole aim of keeping the BJP out of power.
Hitting out at the JDS, he said its candidates had lost deposit in 121 constituencies and it had not won even a single seat in 16 districts.
Yeddyurappa said he had committed an “unpardonable crime” by supporting Kumaraswamy as head of the BJPJDS coalition in 2006 and he was seeking apology from the people for the same.
The BJP leader said Kumaraswamy had “betrayed” him by not transferring power to him in 2007 after being the chief minister for 20 months, as per the agreement between the two parties. Tearing into the Congress-jds post-poll alliance, he said, “What morality is it to kiss the JD(S) leadership who are out to finish Congress and Siddaramaiah? There is only one ideology and that is to keep BJP away from power.
This unholy alliance will ruin the state.
People are cursing Congress for joining JD(S),” he said.
“We failed to get 113 seats (for majority) but did JD-S or Congress get the majority. Congress is reduced from 122 seats to 78 seats,” Yeddyurappa said.
Turning to state senior Congress leader D K Shivakumar, who was the key person who held the party MLAS flock together, Yeddyurappa told him, “You will repent Shivakumar. You did the unpardonable crime of protecting everyone (MLAS).
You protected the person (Kumaraswamy) who had betrayed the people of the state.” He also defended the invitation extended to him by Governor Vajubhai Vala to form the government. It was a convention that had been followed in several cases, he said.
Yeddyurappa admitted that he did contact some MLAS in the rival camp to muster numbers, but “there is nothing wrong with it.
I wanted to tell them (the MLAS) not to give an opportunity to form an unholy alliance with the father and son.”
Reminding Kumaraswamy of the election promise to waive farm loan within 24 hours of coming to power, Yeddyurappa said farm loan borrowed from cooperatives and nationalised banks should be waived..if done completely, we will support it wholeheartedly.
Else, on Monday, we will hold a Karnataka bandh and teach JDS a lesson,” he said.”