HDK to face floor test today; BJP throws gauntlet, fields nominee for Speaker’s post
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy will face a floor test on Friday which he is widely expected to sail through, barring any unforeseeable events, ending the 10-day political uncertainty in the state.
The 58-year-old Kumaraswamy, who was sworn in at a grand assembly of leaders of non-BJP parties on Wednesday, looks sitting pretty given the strength of the JD(S)-CongressBSP coalition in the House.
While the Congress has 78 MLAs, Kumaraswamy's JD(S) has 36, and BSP 1. The alliance has also claimed support of the lone KPJP MLA and an independent. Kumaraswamy had won from two constituencies.
BJP's B S Yeddyurappa, who was sworn in as the chief minister on May 17, had stepped down two days later in the face of imminent defeat without going through the motions of a floor test.
After taking oath, Kumaraswamy had voiced confidence about winning the floor test, but said he had an apprehension that the BJP would try to repeat "Operation Kamala" to bring down his government.
Unfazed by Yeddyurappa's unceremonious exit, the BJP on Thursday fielded its senior leader S Suresh Kumar, a fifth term MLA, for the post of the Speaker whose election will precede the trust vote.
Ramesh Kumar of Congress too filed his nomination for the post as the candidate of the ruling coalition.
"Based on the strength of numbers and various other factors, our party leaders have confidence that I will win. With that confidence I have filed my nomination," the BJP candidate said, indicating that the saffron party was keen on giving the JD(S)-Congress alliance a run for its money.
The BJP is the single largest party in the Assembly with 104 MLAs.
When asked about his chances of winning, the BJP nominee said, "I have filed my nomination. There is election tomorrow at 12:15 pm. After the election you will get to know."
Congress Legislature Party leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah exuded confidence about the coalition candidate's victory.
Meanwhile, the lurking fear of a repeat of "Operation Kamala" by the BJP has prolonged 'resort politics', with the Congress and JD(S) MLAs remaining confined to hotels, a day ahead of the trust vote.
Ever since the electorate delivered a fractured verdict in the Assembly polls on May 15, it has been a sequestered existence for them.
Cloistered at a luxurious resort and hotel for the last nine days since political turmoil hit the state, the lawmakers are cooling their heels away from their families and eagerly waiting for their ordeal to end.
There were reports that these MLAs did not even have access to telephone so they could keep in touch with their families, but the claim was rebutted by both Congress and JD (S) leaders.
Reports said these "restless, homesick" legislators pleaded to be allowed to go home even for a day, but their request was turned down.
Though nobody could vouch for the authenticity of these claims, the MLAs have been kept away from media glare.
The lurking fear of a repeat of "Operation Kamala" by the BJP has prolonged 'resort politics', with the Congress and JD(S) MLAs remaining confined to hotels, a day ahead of the trust vote