As the Opposition BJP continued its ruckus in the legislature for the second day on Thursday, both Houses were adjourned without transacting much business. Protests are unlikely to let up on Friday when Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy presents the State Budget, and a bigger political drama is expected to unfold.
It was a ‘cat-and-mouse’ game, with ‘rebel’ Congress MLAs still elusive and not turning up for the session, and the BJP, while not moving a no-trust vote, continuing the narrative that the coalition was reduced to a “minority”. It has so far not admitted to luring the disgruntled legislators to its side, while the ruling partners have accused the BJP of trying to “buy” their MLAs.
Meanwhile, in an attempt to act tough on the errant legislators, the Congress is holding a special CLP meeting a few hours before the presentation of the budget, and has threatened stern action against those who do not turn up. The JD(S) too has called a special legislative party meeting on Friday morning.
On Thursday, Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar adjourned the Assembly after repeated disruptions. The Council saw both the BJP and Congress leaders holding placards against each other before the House was adjourned.
The day began on a belligerent note on Thursday when BJP members trooped into the well of the House as soon as the proceedings commenced.
Amid the din, Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar allowed the Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara to present papers before the names of several Ministers in the House and asked Congress member S.T. Somashekar to speak on the motion of thanks to Governor Vajubhai Vala’s address.
The BJP members shouted “go back CM... down down CM, two CMs one State... the government lacks majority” and disrupted the proceedings listed on the day’s agenda. Irked over the Opposition’s protest, the Speaker said that “a new chapter has opened in parliamentary democracy without any reason”. As members declined to go back to their seats, the Speaker adjoined the House for a brief period.
Nearly a dozen members of ruling Congress and JD(S) were found holding consultations with Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy in the House after the Assembly was adjourned. Dr. Parameshwara and Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar too were involved in the discussions.
Sloganeering
When the House reassembled, members of both ruling and Opposition parties indulged in sloganeering and disrupted the proceedings. The ruling members hit back at the BJP, shouting “shame shame BJP... BJP anti-democratic, anti-Dalit”.
With both Opposition and ruling members levelling charges and countercharges and indulging in slogan shouting, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day to meet on Friday for the presentation of the budget by the Chief Minister at 12.30 p.m.
