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BENGALURU (IANS) — The Karnataka government led by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday won the confidence motion with a voice vote in the new Assembly after opposition BJP members walked out ahead of the floor test.
“The confidence motion has been put to vote and won by a voice vote in favour of Kumaraswamy,” declared newly elected Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar.
The Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S)-Congress coalition government won the floor test as 116 members voiced their favour for the confidence motion.
The floor test comes almost a week after BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa ended his five-day run as CM without going through the motions of a trust vote.
After addressing the members and replying to an emotional speech by opposition Bharatiya Janata Party leader B.S. Yeddyurappa, Kumaraswamy moved the motion, saying “I seek the support of this house to the confidence motion”.
Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar then put the motion to vote, which was backed by 116 members, including 36 of the JD-S, 77 of the Congress and one each of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janata Party and an Independent through voice.
Speaker Kumar did not vote.
As the 104 members of the BJP walked out before the floor test, Kumar declared that Kumaraswamy had won the motion by 116 voice votes with none against.
Though the Assembly strength is 225, including one nominated member, elections were held on May 12 in 222 constituencies only, which threw up a hung house, with the BJP emerging as the single-largest party with 104 seats.
Mr Yeddyurappa in his speech has predicted that the Congress-JDS alliance won’t last more than three months and there are suggestions that the BJP is hoping that lawmakers left out when the Chief Minister forms his cabinet could be open to switching sides.
He aslo reminded Mr Kumaraswamy of his alliance with the BJP in the past and his “betrayal” – in 2006, he had refused to step down when it was time to hand over the chief minister’s post to the BJP.
Responding to Yeddyurappa’s speech Kumaraswamy said the speech was was perhaps a rehearsal for drama company
“I have listened to Mr. Yeddyurappa’s speech carefully. But he has given wrong information and used impolite words in the house. I will not indulge in personal attacks. Listening to him, I feel the people will not give the BJP power and his speech was perhaps a rehearsal for some drama company,” The Hindu quoted Kumaraswamy as saying.
