Karnataka trust vote | Karnataka Assembly adjourned till Monday without taking up the voting on confidence motion

Government agrees not to prolong the matter further under any circumstances

July 19, 2019 10:09 am | Updated July 20, 2019 12:30 am IST - Bengaluru

Karnataka Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar in the Assembly on Friday, July 19, 2019.

Karnataka Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar in the Assembly on Friday, July 19, 2019.

In a shock to the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) government in Karnataka, Governor Vajubhai Vala has directed Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to prove his majority by the end of the day on the floor of the Assembly on Friday.

With the rebel MLAs resolute in their stand that they will not attend the session, the fall of the 13-month-old government appears imminent. The Governor’s direction came after the House adjourned earlier on Thursday amid a heated debate without a vote on the confidence motion moved by the Chief Minister.

Here are the latest updates:

8:40 p.m.

The House has been adjourned to Monday.

Both Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and CLP leader Siddaramaiah have assured the Speaker that they would not prolong the process beyond Monday. It was after this assurance that the House was adjourned to Monday.

7:00 p.m.

 

Leader of opposition B.S. Yeddyurappa has appealed to the Speaker to finish the proceedings today itself and also put the motion to vote today.

 

6:50 p.m.

Home Minister M.B. Patil says acting on the direction of the Speaker, State police have probed into the issue of Shreemanth Patil going to Mumbai.

"Our police have met the family members of the legislator who has stated that he has gone on his own will. But our police team was not allowed to meet the MLA in the hospital in Mumbai. The MLA also did not wish to meet the State police," he says laying the report in the house.

Senior Minister Krishna Byre Gowda informs the Speaker that the coalition would ensure the completion of proceedings on confidence motion on Monday.

6:30 p.m.

Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar responding to a request by senior Congress MLA H.K. Patil to call the MLAs in Mumbai to the House, said he was in no way concerned with it. "I cannot and do not want to force these MLAs to come to the house," he said.

D.K. Shivakumar alleges the rebel MLAs are kept captive and they are forced to make each of those statements. He makes a hand gesture to suggest they were held at gun point.

Speaker says he cannot take cognizance of reports of what may have happened outside the house. "I can only take cognizance only if they or their blood relatives write to me alleging they are held captive and seek security," he says.

6:15 p.m.

BJP leader and former minister Suresh Kumar says the debate on motion on confidence cannot be dragged on forever. "The sanctity of the vote of confidence is lost if this happens," he says.

"Please conclude however long it takes today," he adds.

6:00 p.m.

"Give me a solution," Speaker asks the House

K. R. Ramesh Kumar, the Speaker of the House, says he cannot be seen as dragging the proceedings. Krishna Byregowda says there are many more to speak and the Speaker has to give more time.

"There is no point in dragging. Let us close it for today," says the Speaker.

"I do not want to be accused of dragging the subject, but I also don't want legislators to say I did not give them an opportunity to speak," he adds.

Meanwhile, MLA Madhu Swamy says the BJP legislators are ready to stay on for any length of time and the Speaker should be concluding proceedings today. "This debate is leading nowhere," he says. However, The Congress and JD(S) legislators insist on more time.

The Chief Minister says he wants to speak again, at the end, after all the legislators speak. "We can conclude on Monday," the CM says.

5:55 p.m.

Congress and JD(S) legislators say that House should be adjourned because it is approaching 6 p.m. and Mr. Shivalinge Gowda can resume on Monday when the House reassembles.

MLAs say they need to travel back to their constituencies and cannot indefinitely stay in Bengaluru.

5:00 p.m.

Kumaraswamy moves Supreme Court

Mr. Kumaraswamy moves SC seeking clarification of July 17 order that rebel MLAs can’t be compelled to attend Assembly proceedings.

"Governor cannot dictate the House on the manner in which debate of Confidence motion has to take place, Mr. Kumaraswamy tells SC. No such direction on trust vote could have been issued by Governor Vajubhai Vala when confidence motion was already initiated. Directions of Governor are completely contrary and ex-facie in contravention of apex court’s earlier verdict," he says.

Mr. Kumaraswamy further adds that Governor issued direction that trust vote be completed before 1:30 PM Friday, which he cannot do.

Meanwhile in the House, Congress and JD(S) legislators say that House should be adjourned because it is approaching 6 p.m. and Shivalinge Gowda can resume on Monday when the House reassembles.

4.40 p.m.

K.M. Shivalinge Gowda, JDS MLA, recalls his visit to Mumbai to get in touch with the rebel MLAs and says the manner in which they were treated is a "shame." He alleges there were BJP leaders and rebel MLAs in the same hotel, in clear indication that they were lured away by the saffron party.

"Do you need any further proof of the BJP's role in all this?" he asks.

"This is not the only coalition government in the state, but our Opposition talks as if Karnataka is the only state with a coalition in power. The BJP does not understand the gravity of trust vote. It cannot be done without a debate. It is not about resigning and going home. BJP should not make light of it," says Mr. Gowda. "There has been precedence of a debate that lasted 10 days in the Lok Sabha. Why is there a hurry only here in Karnataka? Does the BJP fear that the rebels might return and extend support to the coalition? Do they fear that their seventh effort too will be aborted?"

4 p.m.

Can't reply to baseless reports, says Kumaraswamy

CM Kumaraswamy starts speaking again: “The opposition leader has repeatedly said the government has failed in drought relief and deceived farmers over loan waiver. Now that the govt has moved confidence motion, the opposition should atleast tell how I have failed. Instead they are only seeking by the end of the day.

“I am not a person who sticks to power. If that was the case I would have immediately come back from USA. But I did not.H.D. Revanna said baseless allegations of Corruption are being made against him. I am ready to answer every allegation in the House. But I can't reply to baseless media reports.”

He terms the second letter from Governor a "love letter" from Raj Bhavan to the State government. "I am not going to run away from public life."

"The Opposition says that they have no role in destabilising the government, but photos emerge showing the rebel MLAs with BJP leaders," says the Chief Minister and submits photos to the Speaker.

The Chief Minister says this situation would not have arisen if the Governor had taken action when the rebel MLAs had met him after submitting resignations to the Speaker. How has the Governor suddenly woken up to horse trading happening in Karnataka, he asks.

Mr. Kumaraswamy seeks the Speaker's protection for his rights in the light of the second letter of the Governor. He says a section of journalists too have decided to play a role in bringing down the government. "BJP has tried six times to bring down the government and is now making a seventh attempt. Let us see if you will bring down the government and it will end in President's rule," he said.

Mr. Revanna says he needs time to speak, considering he has faced the most number of allegations.

3.45 p.m.

Congress moves SC against July 17 order

Karnataka Congress moved the Supreme Court contending that its July 17 order on the resignation of 15 rebel Congress-JD(S) MLAs was coming in the way of the party issuing whip to its legislators in the ongoing trust vote.

The application filed by Karnataka Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao sought clarification on the order, which said the 15 rebel MLAs cannot be compelled to participate in the ongoing Assembly proceedings, saying that the direction compromises with the party’s right to issue whip.

It said the apex court’s order “whittles down” the power of a political party to issue whip to its MLAs as it has a constitutional right to do so and the court can’t restrict that.

 

Amit Shah is helming conspiracy, says Rao

Mr. Rao alleges that Home Minister Amit Shah is helming a conspiracy to destabilise the State government by misusing constitutional offices. BJP legislators object even as Congress MLAs launch counter slogans "down down BJP". House plunges into pandemonium.

Governor says that in the light of allegations of horse trading he had asked CM to prove majority by 1.30 p.m. "Please prove your majority by the end of the day itself," he says.

3.30 p.m.

Speaking outside the House Mr. Yeddyurappa said that they plan to move privilege motion on allegations made against Dr. Aswath Narayan.

JD(S) rebel MLA A.H. Vishwanath speaking to media channels denied allegations made against him by Minister S.R. Mahesh. He said while it was true that he met Mr. Mahesh at his farm house there was no discussion about money between them. "I have no debt and am not sold out to BJP," he said. He was speaking over phone from Mumbai where rebel MLAs are camping.

2.35 p.m.

Mumbai police allow Karnataka police to meet 'sick' MLA

Mumbai police allowed Karnataka police officials to meet Congress MLA Shreemant Patil, who has been admitted in a state-run hospital here.

The police officials recorded Mr. Patil’s statement, an official said. The development came amid reports that Mr. Patil wrote to Karnataka Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar, denying that he was kidnapped by the BJP.

“I went to Chennai for personal work and felt chest pain. Visited hospital and on doctor’s suggestion I came to Mumbai and got admitted here. I was not kidnapped by BJP,” Mr. Patil wrote in an email to Mr. Ramesh, sources said. - PTI

2.00 pm

Speaker is supreme: Siddaramaiah

Speaking to reporter outside the Assembly, CLP leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah says 20 members have been listed to speak and only then the motion can be put to vote. "The BJP is in a hurry because they have already done business with rebel MLAs. The debate may conclude today or may spill over. Speaker is supreme on this matter" he says.

1.35 pm

No division of votes till the debate is over, says Speaker

Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar tells BJP that they cannot press for division of vote till the debate is concluded. Assembly rules stipulate a motion can be put to vote only after the debate is concluded. "I will not violate the rules of the house," says the Speaker.  "Governor's direction is to the Chief Minister. It's left to him to obey it or not. I will conduct the house as per the rules of the house", he says.

Speaker adjourns the House to 3 pm.

1.30 pm

Governor has a right to interfere: BJP

Senior BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai argues that the Governor has a right to interfere when the govt is already in minority. Congress objects to this and asks from where he is drawing such an inference. Governor set deadline of 1:30 pm lapses. Motion not put to vote yet. Leader of opposition B.S. Yeddyurappa demands division of vote.

1.28 pm

Governor has the right, says BJP member

For the first a BJP members rises to speak. BJP MLA J C Madhuswamy says the session and government were different. "It is he who has installed this government and he has the right to ask such govt to prove its majority at any moment", he says. Mr.  Swamy says the party is not interested in any further debates citing precedents. Mr. Krishna Byre Gowda, shots back and says "it's not surprising from a party that does not believe in Constitution". Senior Minister RV Deshpande says Governor had a constitutional right to seek a confidence motion, but that was before the motion was moved. Once the motion has been moved, it's left to the speaker to decide on the proceedings. We have to follow good precedents and values of democracy, he says.

1.25 pm

'Go back Governor' slogans raised

Congress and JDS MLAs raise slogans "Go Back Governor" and call him BJP and Amit Shah's agent. This happens minutes before the Governor's 1:30 pm deadline.

Pandemonium in the House.

1.10 pm

Speaker clarifies on Kagavada MLA Shreemanth Patil's absence

Speaker Ramesh Kumar interjects to read out an email from Kagavada MLA Shreemanth Patil clarifiying his absence. "He (Patil) has said he had gone to Chennai on personal work where he experienced chest pain. When contacted, Mumbai based family doctor advised him to reach Mumbai where am being treated".

"Contrary to allegations I have not been abducted by BJP", he had said in the letter requesting the speaker to grant him permission to abstain from the remaining part of the ongoing session.

‘Diversionary tactic’:  BJP MLAs staging a protest by sleeping  in the lounge near the Assembly Hall.

‘Diversionary tactic’: BJP MLAs staging a protest by sleeping in the lounge near the Assembly Hall.

12.50 pm

Motion is the property of the House: Minister

Minister Krishna Byre Gowda argues that Governor can stipulate time for the Chief Minister to seek confidence motion when he feels he has lost majority. "But this case is different. Here the Chief Minister has already moved the motion and is under debate. The motion is the property of the house. Our constitution doesn't let anyone to become dictatorial either governor or the speaker," he says.  Mr. Krishna Byregowda cites judgements of the Supreme Court to bolster the argument that Governor cannot intervene in this matter and set deadlines.

12.45 pm

Kumaraswamy questions Governor's deadline

Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy speaks during the confidence motion at the Legislative Assembly in Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru on Friday, July 19, 2019.

Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy speaks during the confidence motion at the Legislative Assembly in Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru on Friday, July 19, 2019.

"The Governor has set a deadline for me at 1:30 pm to prove my majority. Supreme court has left to your discretion to conduct the proceedings of the house. I have already moved the motion of confidence. I will leave it to your discretion to decide whether the governor can issue such direction," Mr. Kumaraswamy tells Speaker. "There needs to be a debate about how constitutional provisions are being circumvented. Can it be completed in such short time?," he asks.

12.40 pm

CM apologises to Speaker

Chief minister H.D.Kumaraswamy apologises to speaker Ramesh Kumar for not following his directions to probe an audio tape he had released in February 2019, in which BJP leaders levelled bribery allegations against him and other constitutional offices. "There are limitations to my office as well. I couldn't get it probed," he says.

12.25 pm

JD (S) MLA Srinivas Gowda alleges horse-trading by BJP leaders

Mr. Srinivas Gowda makes a statement: "Malleswaram MLA Ashwath Narayan, Yelahanka MLA S R Vishwanath and former MLA Yogeeshwara gave me ₹5 crore. I refused and said am not such a person. Now they are asking me offering me ₹30 crore. It is true that they gave me money. If they say it's false, I will prove it," All three three named are BJP leaders.

Reacting to this, Krishna Byre Gowda demands an inquiry into this allegation. Minister S.R.Mahesh too alleged horse-trading. Following this, the Speaker said he wanted all this allegations to go on record. "Let people of Karnataka know what politics has come to," he says.

12.25 pm

Let everything go on record: Speaker

Speaker Ramesh Kumar takes objection to the Opposition casting aspersions on him. "You live like this which they are exposing. But why drag us who live with dignity", he asks.  "I will give full time. Let everything come out so that people take note", he says.

12.15 pm

Pandemonium in House

When Mr. Kumaraswamy said some MLAs were offered money, Kolar JDS MLA Srinivas Gowda raised to say that he was offered Rs. 5 crore, which he returned. Minister Krishna Byregowda asks if in this season of drought money is pouring from the sky. This leads to pandemonium in House.

12.10 pm

'Vajpayee took 10 days to debate'

Former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee took 10 days to debate before moving a confidence vote in 1999. "Why such a hurry now?. Why not allow a discussion? Why the hurry to go through vote without a debate?. Can you keep rebels under guard forever in the hotel in Mumbai, guarded by bouncers?, CM asks the Opposition BJP.  "Dont hurry through the debate because it needs to be recorded for history. So let us not hurry. Let there be a fair debate about how systematically you (BJP) are killing democracy in this country,", he says.

12.05 pm

CM congratulates Speaker

Mr. Kumaraswamy praises Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar for conduct of the House. "Now BJP objects to even a debate on the motion. But in 2010 when there was a similar crisis police were inside the Assembly. Was it even allowed? In comparison I commend you (Speaker) for the way you have conducted the house", he says.

12 noon

'Why mock Revanna's temple visits'

CM attacks the BJP for criticising his brother H.D. Revanna carrying a lemon. "You talk of Hindutva and attack people who go to temples". "They have often alleged tha tRevanna indulges in black magic. Yes, we believe in God. But I can tell standing before any God that my family doesn't practice black magic. A government can't be saved by black magic," he says.

Chief Ministers come and go, but MLAs have to answer people who voted them to power, he says. "You can betray me, but not the people of your constituencies,", he says.

11.40 am

'What is the hurry?'

Mr. Kumaraswamy continues:  "Yeddyurappa says there need not be any debate. Put it to vote. But someday when the history of the state is written it has to go on record. I haven't misused power", he says.

What is the hurry to come to power, he asks the Opposition. "I will not hang on to power, by begging for power", he says.  CM recalls the 2009 episode when 57 MLAs from BJP went to a resort and the government was tottering. The then CM had requested them to save him apologising. "I am in his position today. But I will not request anyone," he says. "The BJP may have won 303 seats today. But I would like to remember BJP, how Rajiv Gandhi won a mandate of more than 400 seats. And what happened to the party. Let them not assume it's permanent,", he says. "I am not anxious about losing power. I was ready to step down from the day I occupied this chair", he says. Mr. Kumaraswamy also he would see how stable the BJP government be would after all this exercise.

11.30 am

 

'Attempt to destabilise the govt from the day 1'

"When Yeddyurappa became CM in 2008 with the support of 5 independent MLAs in two months the independents came to me asking me to topple the government. But I did not encourage them", Mr. Kumaraswamy says. There has been an effort to destabilise the govt from the day it was formed, he said.  "It is immaterial who is in position of power, but there is a need to set right this political mockery. It was BJP which started a new chapter getting MLAs from opposition to resign. 17-18 MLAs resigned", he says.

11.15 am

Kumaraswamy begins to speak

After the Speaker's remarks, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy begins to speak. All eyes are on him. Whether he will move the apex court on the issue today remains to be seen.  Mr. Kumaraswamy recalls how he became Chief Minister in 2006 in coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

11.10 am

Assembly session begins

Speaker K. R. Ramesh Kumar says he was upset with the Opposition MLAs who have cast aspersions on his character. Speaker says he has reserved his order on the point of order raised by CLP leader Siddaramaiah. "Advocate general has given a written opinion on the matter a few minutes back. Am yet to read the full opinion,", he says.

10.00 am

Kumaraswamy will make his farewell speech on Friday: Yeddyurappa

State BJP chief B.S.Yeddyurappa predicts the end of the coalition government and says his party will decide on the future course of action after consulting the national leadership.

“Mostly today will be the end of Congress-JDS government’s misrule... the Chief Minister will make his farewell speech today, we will patiently hear it,” Mr. Yeddyurappa told reporters here.

“Depending on the outcome of the proceedings in the House today, we will discuss with our national president Amit Shah and decide on the future course of action,” he adds.

This Friday will mark a good day for the BJP in Karnataka, Yeddyurappa said adding “I’m confident that with God’s grace, everything will be good,” he says.

 

JD (S), Cong. question Governor’s move

The Congress and the JD(S) members took exception to Governor Vajubhai R. Vala’s message to Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar and to the House to complete the process on trust motion moved by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday itself.

(With inputs from Karnataka buraeu, agencies)

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