K'taka CM Kumaraswamy to seek trust vote, asks Speaker to fix time

As his government teetered on the brink, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday announced that he would seek a trust vote and sought time from Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar.

The surprise announcement from the embattled chief minister came in the state Assembly, which met here for a 11-day session in the backdrop of the resignation of 16 ruling coalition MLAs, which now threatens the government’s survival.

However, the opposition BJP took exception to the chief minister raising the matter during obituary reference. A total of 16 MLAs-13 of the Congress and three of the JD(S) resigned, which was followed by the two independent legislators who were made ministers recently withdrawing support to the government.

“In my opinion today in the backdrop of the developments, I have decided that I should move the confidence motion. I seek your time,” Kumaraswamy told the Speaker.

“The occasion is such that, I have to say this, I can continue only if I enjoy the trust of the House. In this background, I am not ready to misuse my position sitting in this place,” he said. He said he had taken the decision on the trust vote “voluntarily.”

“The ongoing political developments, this confusion has been created due to the action of some MLAs. I am ready for everything. I am not here to stick on to power,” Kumaraswamy said.

The ruling coalitions total strength is 116 (Congress-78, JD(S)-37 and BSP-1), besides the Speaker. With the support of the two independents, who on Monday resigned from the ministry, the BJP has 107 MLAs in the 224-member House, where the half-way mark is 113.

If the resignations of the 16 MLAs are accepted, the coalitions tally will be reduced to 100. Reacting to the development, BJP leader and former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa said Friday’s session was meant for condolences but the chief minister chose to speak
about seeking trust vote.

“The chief minister should have spoken paying condolences to the departed souls. He has to think how justified is it to seek trust vote in the middle of paying tributes,” Eshwarappa said.

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