Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa will move a one-line resolution seeking a vote of confidence in his government on the opening day of the 10-day legislature session beginning on Thursday. The resolution will be moved in the Assembly and taken up for consideration soon after the obituary references are made.
Mr. Yeddyurappa told The Hindu that “in the context of the prevailing political confusion I have decided to seek the confidence of the Legislative Assembly in my government. I am confident that the government enjoys a majority and that the resolution will pass without much effort.”
Speaker K.G. Bopaiah, who has listed the motion of confidence on top of the agenda, said that, if required, a discussion would be permitted. However, the resolution has to be adopted on the same day.
Given the commanding majority that the ruling party enjoys, it is highly unlikely that there will be a demand for a division wherein members have to vote on the resolution. In all likelihood, the resolution on the motion of confidence will be passed by a voice vote.
The budget session of the legislature is thus all set for a rousing start even as the Janata Dal (Secular) has said it will boycott the session and the Congress has said it will take a call on whether to attend the session a few hours before the session begins.
It will be the first time in the three years of the incumbent government that the Bharatiya Janata Party will be facing the Assembly with its strength bolstered following the Supreme Court setting aside the disqualification of 16 legislators, including 11 of the BJP. With a strength of 122 members, including the Speaker, and an independent, the BJP will command a majority in the 225-member Assembly in which there is also a vacant seat following the resignation of the Koppal legislator, Karadi Sanganna, who has crossed over to the BJP.
It is still not clear whether the session will see the participation of the Opposition parties. While the Janata Dal (Secular), with 26 members, has categorically stated that it will boycott the session, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah told The Hindu that a Congress Legislature Party meeting would be held on Thursday to take a final call on the party's participation in the proceedings. The Congress has a strength of 71.
The two Opposition parties had worked in unison to oust the government, and the recommendation of Governor H.R. Bhardwaj for imposition of President's Rule in the State had given a boost to their demand.
