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Updated July 21st, 2019 at 18:45 IST

Karnataka Crisis: 2 independent MLAs approach SC, allege that HD Kumaraswamy plans to admit himself to a hospital to delay trust vote

In a major political development in the state of Karnataka, two Independent MLAs are seeking SC Directions to a trust vote.

Reported by: Navashree Nandini
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In a major political development in the state of Karnataka, two Independent MLAs are seeking SC Directions to a trust vote. Two Independent MLAs of Karnataka Assembly Shankar and Nagesh have approached the Supreme Court about the breakdown of Constitution democracy in Karnataka - where a CM despite not having a majority in the house is stalling a trust vote by dubious tactics. They further alleged that the CM HD Kumaraswamy is planning to admit himself to a hospital to further delay the trust vote. Trust vote in the Karnataka assembly is scheduled on July 22. 

On July 19, the drama of the assembly was put on hold till Monday, with the Assembly being adjourned by the Speaker after failing to meet the governor's deadline at 6 PM to conduct trust vote that would decide the fate of HD Kumaraswamy-led coalition government.  BJP Karnataka chief BS Yeddyurappa, on Friday had said that the current coalition JD(S)-Congress government has time till Monday to prove its majority saying that BJP had the numbers while Kumarswamy did not. The idependent MLAs step to seek SC's help comes after continuous delay in trust vote. 

Delay in Floor-test:

In the morning on Friday, after resuming debate on the floor, the Governor of Karnataka Vajubhai Vala had asked Chief Minister to prove his majority by 1:30 pm, which was countered by the Speaker by saying that the trust vote will be conducted through a voice vote after the discussion ends adjourning the assembly on Friday until 3:00 pm. This was followed by another directive from the Governor that the confidence vote business should be completed by 6 pm.

Intervening in the debate, Kumaraswamy virtually ruled out proving his majority in the Assembly by the second deadline set by the Governor, when he sought protection from the Assembly Speaker in the matter. He said the "second love letter" sent by Vala asking him to prove majority in the Assembly before 6 pm today hurt him and asked him whether he came to know of horse-trading only now. As the trust vote was pushed till Monday, the governor wrote to Ministry of Home affairs (MHA) about the developments in the state. 

Meanwhile, the rebel MLAs had appealed to the Supreme Court claiming that the Speaker is not accepting the resignations, to which the apex court ruled after hearing both the sides that the rebel MLAs are not bound to be the part of the floor test and may skip it if they wish to do so. 

Here are the numbers at present:

BJP - 105 MLAs

Congress-JD(S) MLAs - 100 including Ramalinga Reddy 

Speaker- 1

Rebels MLAs- 15

Independent- 2

BSP MLA - 1

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Published July 21st, 2019 at 18:04 IST

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