Karnataka crisis: Kumaraswamy loses trust vote, no longer CM
After a long day and longer debates, trust vote began in Karnataka Assembly, and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy failed to prove majority in the House. This means he will no longer be the CM, paving way for BJP to form the government. To recall, the trust vote was supposed to happen last week, but was stalled after protests by the coalition government. Here's more.
The coalition government in Karnataka slipped into a crisis after 18 legislators resigned. For days, speaker KR Ramesh Kumar sat on the resignations, prompting the legislators to approach Supreme Court. Last week, the apex court gave Ramesh the liberty to decide on the resignations whenever he wants. But the bench, headed by CJI Gogoi, said the legislators can't be forced to attend the Assembly.
Stepping in to ensure the crisis ends soon, Governor Vajubhai Vala gave a deadline to Kumaraswamy. He asked the CM to prove majority by 1:30 PM on Thursday, and after the deadline was breached, another one was given for 6 PM. Adjourning the House on Friday, Ramesh assured the trust vote would happen on Monday. But chants of coalition members stopped the process.
#Karnataka Assembly: Congress-JD(S) secured 99 votes, BJP secured 105 votes https://t.co/Cbd5eRdamO
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2019
"I have acted with decency. The last 14 months has been - 'will they stay or will they go' - and I thank my party leaders for staying through it all. The objections to us started on Day 1 of the coalition government," Kumaraswamy said.
For the uninitiated, let's go back to 2018. At the end of 2018 polls, when none of the parties got a complete majority, Congress and JD(S) stitched a post-poll alliance. The alliance was on shaky grounds since day one, as they couldn't arrive on common ground on a number of issues. After the legislators resigned, Operation Lotus took over, and here we are!
Karnataka's future now: @BSYBJP as CM - drama at bypolls - vote of no confidence - scrape through - another rebellion - vote of no confidence - state election.
— Mohit Rao (@mohitmrao) July 23, 2019
