For the second time in three days, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa will seek a trust vote in the state assembly on Thursday after Governor H.R. Bhardwaj declared Monday’s confidence vote as “farce” and forced the exercise on him.
Mr. Yeddyurappa and BJP is not under moments of tense in facing the second trial of strength as it enjoyed required numbers in the 224-member house, which has now been reduced to 208 after the controversial disqualification of sixteen rebel MLAs.
In the House, the BJP now has 106 members including the Speaker, Congress 73, JD(S) 28, Independents one and 16 vacancies.
The ruling side on Wednesday renewed its “operation lotus” and lured back the lone independent Varthur Prakash to its fold.
The BJP now commands the support of 107 MLAs and it expects JDS member M C Ashwath from Chennappa to lend his hand.
All political parties have issued whip to their respective members. BJP has issued the whip asking their members to vote in favour of the motion and the opposition JD(S) and Congress to oppose it.
Even after winning the motion of confidence, Mr. Yeddyurappa and BJP cannot rest on its outcome, which now has been subjected to the verdict by High Court on a batch of petitions filed by sixteen MLAs challenging the order of the Speaker K.G. Bopaiah to disqualify them.
The petitions are coming up for hearing on October 18.
Police have virtually laid a siege to Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat, occupying every inch of space to thwart any trouble during the trust vote and avoid the ugly scenes that unfolded on Monday.
On October 11, Yeddyurpapa won the trust motion by a voice vote, which was rejected by the Governor and questioned by Opposition.
Mr. Bhardwaj had on Monday recommended the Centre to impose to President’s rule in the state, but gave “another opportunity” to Mr. Yeddyurappa to prove his strength in the Assembly today.
Hours before the trust vote, Yeddyurappa today expressed confidence of winning the vote of confidence without any problem.
“101 per cent I will win this. I foresee no problem today. The god is with me. MLAs are supporting and people are supporting me,” Mr. Yeddyurappa told reporters, before visiting a temple to seek divine intervention.
“I am not bothered about the opposition” was his reply when reporters drew his attention to reports that Opposition Congress and JD(S) were planning to boycott the House today.
“Why should I worry? The governor has directed me to take the second floor test. I am doing it,” he said.
Mr. Yeddyurappa lambasted the opposition parties for creating the political turmoil to achieve their lust for power.
“I am not responsible for all the confusion and developments that (the state) is facing now. However, I tender my apologies to the people of the state for the ugly incidents,” Mr. Yeddyurappa said.
He said he did not anticipate any cross voting by BJP men during the trust vote in the light of disqualification of eleven MLAs who betrayed the party.
Mr. Yeddyurappa said he would hereafter concentrate on development works.
