Karnataka crisis: Cong-JDS defy deadlines to prove majority

Bengaluru, July 19 (PTI): In a face-off with Governor Vajubhai Vala, the JDS-Congress government in Karnataka defied the two deadlines set by him to demonstrate its majority in the Assembly on Friday itself, worsening the political logjam.

The assembly was adjourned till Monday after the governor’s 1.30 pm deadline and the second one to conclude the confidence motion process by Friday itself was ignored, prolonging the climax to the ceaseless power struggle.

As the first deadline neared, the ruling coalition vociferously questioned the governor’s power to issue such a direction, with Kumaraswamy citing a Supreme Court verdict that a governor cannot act as ombudsman of the legislature.

The second missive by the governor was dismissed as a “love letter” by Kumaraswamy who criticised Vala for talking about horse-trading now “when it had been happening” for the last several days.

Before adjourning the House for the day, Speaker Ramesh Kumar said the motion of confidence would reach finality on Monday and it would not be prolonged further under any circumstances, to which the government agreed.

In his second missive to Kumaraswamy, the governor expressed his “prima facie satisfaction” that the government has lost its majority confidence of the house.

The governor said he was receiving various reports about the attempts being made for horse-trading. As he was speaking on the confidence motion, Kumaraswamy said, “I have received the second love letter” from the governor. He has got gnanodaya (awareness) now.

Referring to 15 rebel MLAs of ruling Congress and JDS resignations and their stay in a Mumbai hotel, he asked “If the governor had taken action when the MLAs resigned, will all these special aircraft (to shift the MLAs) have flown.

“Governor gave police protection to MLAs until they left,” Kumaraswamy alleged.

“I seek your protection,” the chief minister told the Speaker and left the letter (deadline) issue to him.

Kumaraswamy, who had moved the confidence motion Thursday, said 25 to 26 members had to still speak on the confidence motion and requested the speaker to give them the time.

BJP leader Suresh Kumar said sanctity of trust vote would be lost if dragged on and insisted the process be completed Friday itself.

As the assembly clock struck 1.30 pm, the BJP insisted on a division on the confidence motion in accordance with the letter by the governor to him.

The House was then adjourned till 3 pm amid ruckus with both the BJP and Congress members locked in heated exchanges over the governor’s role.

Vala had Thursday set the 1.30 pm deadline for proving the majority within hours after the voting on the confidence motion could not take place with the Speaker adjourning the day’s proceedings in the assembly.

As the deadline approached, BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa stood up and pressed for division on the confidence motion and his party insisted that Kumaraswamy should make it clear whether he would obey the governor’s directive or not.

Senior ministers R V Deshpande and Krishna Byre Gowda asserted that once the motion was moved, it was the property of the House and no one can insist to do things in a specific way.

Amid pandemonium, Congress members accused the BJP of misusing the governor’s office to conspire against the government and shouted slogans, “go back governor.”

Kumaraswamy mounted a scathing attack on the BJP accusing it of offering INR 40-50 crore bribe to the ruling coalition legislators to lure them away and bring down his government. He alleged that an atmosphere was created from day one that “this government will go” and it was unstable.

Allegations of bribery flew thick and fast as the debate progressed with the ruling coalition ministers and members targeting the BJP for its alleged toppling game.

JDS MLA Srinivas Gowda alleged he was offered INR 5 crore bribe by BJP to defect to bring down the government.

Minister Sa Ra Mahesh alleged Vishwanath (JDS former state president) had told him that he needs money as he has election-related loan of INR 28 crore.

Krishna Byre Gowda alleged hundreds of crores of rupees were being pumped in to bring down the government.