Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has agreed to go through a second floor test in the Legislative Assembly given the strength that he enjoys. Sources in the Bharatiya Janata Party told The Hindu on Tuesday that the government, which was awaiting the outcome of a petition filed by 16 legislators in the Karnataka High Court challenging their disqualification from the Assembly, decided to heed the suggestion of Governor H.R. Bhardwaj since it had the requisite numbers.
The next hearing of the matter in the High Court is scheduled for October 18 by which time the second floor test would be through.
Characterising the first floor test as a “farce,” the Governor on Monday recommended to President Pratibha Patil to promulgate President's rule while keeping the Assembly under suspended animation. However, in a sudden shift on Tuesday, he wrote to the Chief Minister to consider the option of a second floor test.
In the 225-member House, 16 legislators have been disqualified by an order of Speaker K.G. Bopaiah. Of the remaining 209 members, the BJP claims the support of 106 members (excluding the Speaker) while the Congress and the JD(S) together have 101 members with support of one Independent.
