Bengaluru: After weeks of uncertainty in Karnataka, the Congress-JD(S) coalition government collapsed as it could not garner a majority during the floor test. BJP leader B. S. Yeddyurappa said that it was a victory of democracy and gave hope of a new era of development in the State.
Yeddyurappa while speaking to the media told that the people were fed up of the Congress-JD(S) government.
The Speaker, K. R. Ramesh Kumar, said that 99 MLAs voted in favour of the government, another 107 voted against it in the 224 member House. With 15 MLAs resigning from the coalition the government turned into a minority over night. There were only 209 members in the House while the trust vote was cast.
The 15 MLAs refused to attend the House even after the Speaker asked them to be present at the trust vote.
Chief Minister, H. D. Kumaraswamy, submitted his resignation to the Governor, Vajubhai Vala. The governor asked Kumaraswamy to continue as caretaker Chief Minister. He was also asked not to take any executive decision during the period.
BJP leaders will now meet the Governor to stake claim to form the government. Swearing in ceremony of the BJP government in Karnataka is likely to take place on 25 July.
After losing the trust vote the Congress blamed the Central government and BJP for indulging in horse trading.
Kumaraswamy who moved the trust vote on 18 July tried to delay the process as long as possible. He called for debates to continue. When the Governor set a deadline for the trust vote he retorted that the Governor cannot interfere in the House.
The lone BSP MLA in the Assembly, N. Mahesh, opted to stay out of the floor test against the direct order of BSP chief Mayawati. He has been expelled from the party for his disobeying her order.
The political drama in Karnataka began after 15 MLAs from the coalition government tendered their resignations. The Speaker delayed accepting the resignation letters. After the Supreme Court intervened the Speaker claimed that he needed time to take a decision on the resignation letters.
The MLAs were taken to Maharashtra by the BJP. Though, Congress leader Shivakumar tried to meet the MLAs at the hotel they were staying to force them back, it failed and he had to return empty handed.
With Speaker’s help the drama kept on continuing and the administration of Karnataka was in the doldrums. After three weeks of uncertainty, the drama has finally ended after Kumaraswamy ran out of all options.
The Speaker too had to concede and asked the government to prove it majority in the house today itself.
Thus a bitter episode has finally come to rest when a government tried to continue in power even after losing the confidence of the people.
It was truly a victory of democracy today.
