Karnataka crisis: Kumaraswamy resigns as CM after Congress-JD(S) coalition loses majority by 6 votes
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati expelled lone party MLA N Mahesh for not voting for the coalition during the floor test.
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Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy resigned as Karnataka chief minister on Tuesday after his government lost the floor test in the Assembly by six votes. The government under the Janata Dal (Secular) and Congress coalition got 99 votes but the BJP secured 105 votes. Attempts to hold a trust vote had failed for a week as the ruling Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition had tried to delay it out of fear of losing majority.
After clashes were reported between Congress and BJP workers in Bengaluru, the Karnataka police imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC. The orders will be in effect until Thursday evening.
Here’s the top updates of the day:
10.33 pm: “BJP has done everything to cause problems to us but this is Kamal Nath’s government not Kumaraswamy’s,” Madhya Pradesh minister Jitu Patwari says, according to ANI. “They will have to take seven births to do horse trading in this government.”
9.47 pm: Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has expelled Karnataka MLA N Mahesh for not voting for the coalition during the floor test. “By violating the party high command order to vote in favour of the Kumaraswamy government in Karnataka, BSP legislator N Mahesh was absent during the trust vote today, which is indiscipline and the party has considered it seriously,” Mayawati says in a tweet.
9.40 pm: Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the BJP will not cause the fall of the state government, ANI reports. “Congress leaders themselves have been responsible for fall of their governments,” he says. “There is an internal conflict in Congress, and support of Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party, if something happens to that then we can’t do anything.”
9.23 pm: Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa says he will discuss with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah before meeting the governor. “We are going to have a legislature party meet now,” he tells ANI.
9.08 pm: Congress leader KC Venugopal says the nefarious joint efforts of the central government, governor, state government of Maharashtra and central BJP leadership brought down the coalition government in Karnataka, reports ANI. He adds that the Congress party will hold nationwide protests against the “immoral, blatant and brazen political destabilisation carried out by the Bharatiya Janata Party”.
8.57 pm: Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala accepts HD Kumaraswamy’s resignation as the chief minister. Vala asks Kumaraswamy to continue as the caretaker chief minister.
Karnataka Governor, Vajubhai Vala accepts HD Kumaraswamy's resignation. pic.twitter.com/AVuD082In4
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2019
8.27 pm: Visuals from the Karnataka Assembly after the trust vote.
HD Kumaraswamy walks out of the Karnataka Assembly, Congress-JD(S) government lost trust vote in the assembly, today. pic.twitter.com/QFooJqLZOR
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2019
8.25 pm: The BJP will meet Governor Vajubhai Vala and stake claim to form the government on Wednesday, says BJP leader R Ashoka, according to News9. He adds that he is sure Yeddyurappa will become the next chief minister.
#BIGNEWS: The saffron party will meet Governor Vala and stake claim to form the govt on July 24: Senior BJP leader @RAshokaBJP pic.twitter.com/Xcj8ptBiPb
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
8.22 pm: “Truth will prevail and democracy will ultimately win,” says Congress.
Whenever evil has truimped it is always momentary.
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) July 23, 2019
Truth will prevail & democracy will ultimately win.
Goodness eternally prevails & we
will conquer & root out this corrupt practices of disregarding people mandate.@INCKarnataka Thank the people of state for their support.
8.19 pm: BJP leaders in Karnataka celebrate the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular)’s loss of majority in the House.
The mandate given by Kannadigas in 2018 in our favour, finally comes to fruition in 2019.
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) July 23, 2019
I am confident that under the leadership of @BJPBSY Karnataka will scale new heights of progress on this development.
Together, let us build a #SuvarnaKarnataka.
Kannadigas Have Won . . .
— C T Ravi 🇮🇳 ಸಿ ಟಿ ರವಿ (@CTRavi_BJP) July 23, 2019
LET US MAKE KARNATAKA GREAT ! ! !
8.17 pm: BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje claims “democracy has won”.
Despite trying hard to retain power by unconstitutional moves, coalition collapsed for their own Karma!
— Shobha Karandlaje (@ShobhaBJP) July 23, 2019
Today, Democracy has WON!
There ends the misery of the state!#BJPBagsKarnataka pic.twitter.com/ltGD9PAbKU
8.15 pm: BJP supporters celebrate at the party office in Bengaluru.
Karnataka: BJP supporters celebrate at party's state office in Bengaluru after HD Kumaraswamy led Congress-JD(S) coalition government lost trust vote in the assembly. pic.twitter.com/JS2dtRFYpr
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2019
8.14 pm: BJP leader Jagadish Shettar says rebel MLAs will have to decide whether they want to join BJP, ANI reports.
Jagadish Shettar, BJP: Their (rebel MLAs) resignations have not yet been accepted by Speaker, after acceptance of resignations they have to decide whether to join BJP or not. In present scenario we have 105 MLAs, it is a majority for BJP, we will form a stable government. pic.twitter.com/b9ezUk7f5s
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2019
8.11 pm: Rebel MLAs are expected to return to Bengaluru on Wednesday, reports News9. They have been staying at a hotel in Mumbai for around 10 days.
8.10 pm: It is clearly evident that BJP leaders are behind this “disgusting political game plan”, claims Siddaramaiah. “People are not fools to not understand this [and] they will teach BJP leaders a great lesson in the coming elections. How is it right to destabilize stable [government] for their selfish reasons? Service to public is the only motivation for us to enter politics. It is not a job but a passion. If we don’t have an ideology, there will be no point of being in public space. I believe in the Constitution & it envisages social justice for all which is also my vision.”
8.08 pm: Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah claims the people’s mandate was for the Congress and JD(S) coalition. “People’ mandate was for our alliance even if we consider the vote share,” he writes on Twitter. “Both our parties together got 54.44% votes. We did form the alliance based on this mandate.”
“BJP did not get the majority both in terms of seat or vote share in 2018 elections but inspite of this, [BS Yeddyurappa] took oath but failed to prove the majority,” he adds. “Had he got little more time, he would have operated back then only.”
.@BJP4Karnataka did not get the majority both in terms of seat or vote share in 2018 elections but inspite of this, @BSYBJP took oath but failed to prove the majority. Had he got little more time, he would have operated back then only.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 23, 2019
8.03 pm: The failure of the trust vote is because of the “betrayal” of the party’s legislatures, says Congress leader HK Patil. “This defeat is because of betrayal of our party legislatures, we have come under the influence of various things. I am sure people of Karnataka will not tolerate this type of betrayal to the party,” he says.
Congress leader HK Patil: Congress-JD(S) failed trust vote. This defeat is because of betrayal of our party legislatures, we have come under the influence of various things. I am people of Karnataka will not tolerate this type of betrayal to the Party. pic.twitter.com/ytyTOhNCBx
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2019
8.02 pm: HD Kumaraswamy is on his way to meet Governor Vajubhai Vala.
#BIGNEWS: @HD_Kumaraswamy heads to Raj Bhavan to meet Governor.@JanataDal_S @INCKarnataka pic.twitter.com/oTROT2ffnZ
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
8 pm: “People were fed up with Kumaraswamy’s government,” Yeddyurappa says. “I want to assure the people of Karnataka [that a] new era of development will start now onwards.” He adds that the new government will focus on farmers’ problems.
7.57 pm: “It is the victory of democracy,” says Bharatiya Janata Party Karnataka chief BS Yeddyurappa.
7.55 pm: Visuals of the Assembly soon after the Congress-JD(S) coalition lost its majority.
#BIGNEWS: State #BJP chief @BSYBJP along with party MLAs seen ecstatic after coalition govt loses the trust vote.@BJP4Karnataka pic.twitter.com/BXHyFKsdU9
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
7.54 pm: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti calls it a “black day” for democracy.
After all the paid for lavish trips to influence Karnataka lawmakers in Mumbai, what can one make of the HD Kumaraswamy led Cong-JD(S) govt collapse? It’s a black day for democracy when a country that prides in being the worlds largest democracy watches an elected govt crumble.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) July 23, 2019
7.51 pm: Kumaraswamy is expected to submit his resignation to Governor Vajubhai Vala soon.
7.49 pm: Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy says: “This is all a part of politics”, according to the Hindustan Times.
7.47 pm: Bharatiya Janata Party chief BS Yeddyurappa and other party MLAs celebrate in the Assembly, ANI reports.
BS Yeddyurappa & other Karnataka BJP MLAs show victory sign in the Assembly, after HD Kumaraswamy led Congress-JD(S) coalition government loses trust vote. pic.twitter.com/hmkGHL151z
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2019
7.45 pm: The BJP reacts soon after the trust vote and calls it the “Game of Karma” and a victory for the people of the state.
Game Of Karma
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) July 23, 2019
It’s the victory of people of Karnataka.
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) July 23, 2019
It’s the end of an era of corrupt & unholy alliance.
We promise a stable & able governance to the people of Karnataka.
Together we will make Karnataka prosperous again ✌🏽
7.40 pm: Kumaraswamy’s government loses its majority in the House. Ninety-nine MLAs voted in favour of the Congress Janata Dal (Secular) government while 105 MLAs voted against it.
7.37 pm: Visuals from the Assembly.
Bengaluru: Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy and Congress leader Siddaramaiah during trust vote in Karnataka Assembly pic.twitter.com/4mOELjkBAt
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2019
7.36 pm: The votes are currently being counted.
7.31 pm: Karnataka Congress MLA Ramalinga Reddy votes in favour of the government during the trust vote in the Legislative Assembly, News18 reports. Reddy is one of the 16 rebel MLAs who had resigned from the coalition government. He had said last week that he will support the party.
7.22 pm: Voting begins in Karnataka Assembly.
Voting begins in #Karnataka Assembly. pic.twitter.com/Kbe8tyqxNc
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2019
7.20 pm: HD Kumaraswamy calls for a trust vote in the Assembly.
7.18 pm: “Like DK Shivakumar pointed out earlier, [Yeddyurappa] had said members who resign, who defect, must be disqualified for ten years,” CM HD Kumaraswamy says in the Assembly. “People who are going to write our history will note all of this. I know that you also cannot run the government that easily.”
When Speaker KR Ramesh intervenes to ask if the Janata Dal (Secular) and Congress will take back the rebel MLAs if they come back both Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah said no.
7.15 pm: Poaching of MLAs have been carried out in an organised manner, Kumaraswamy says.
#BIGNEWS: Poaching of MLAs have been carried out in an organised manner. #BJP is involved in poaching rebels: CM @HD_Kumaraswamy#KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis #KarnatakaFloorTest #StopNataka pic.twitter.com/2tKArZTOEM
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
7.10 pm: Kumaraswamy says he has allotted between Rs 100 crore and Rs 600 crore for developmental works in the constituencies of the rebel MLAs.
6.53 pm: Kumaraswamy questions the coverage of the IMA Jewels case and claims the BJP made baseless allegations against him.
#BIGNEWS: #BJP claimed that I was involved in the #IMA scam. BJP made baseless allegations against me: CM @HD_Kumaraswamy#KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis #KarnatakaFloorTest #StopNataka pic.twitter.com/n48otQYsVa
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
6.41 pm: Speaker KR Ramesh says he is ready to resign. “I have already kept a letter ready with me and I’m ready to resign,” he says.
#BIGNEWS: Speaker #RameshKumar shows his resignation letter to the Assembly, says he has come prepared to submit his resignation if needed.#KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis #KarnatakaFloorTest #StopNataka pic.twitter.com/MjOE9oumPT
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
6.40 pm: Kumaraswamy says he did not sideline any constituencies that did not vote for him. He adds that he is ready for the floor test and is not concerned about the number of MLAs present in the House.
#BIGNEWS: I extended support to Kodagu flood victims. I did not sideline constituencies who did not vote for us: CM @hd_kumaraswamy #KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis #KarnatakaFloorTest #StopNataka pic.twitter.com/RRE3V0yqzq
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
#BIGNEWS: I am not going to run away. I am ready for the floor test: CM @HD_Kumaraswamy#KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis #KarnatakaFloorTest #StopNataka pic.twitter.com/N8eNDu4YWY
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
6.32 pm: Referring to reports on social media mocking the chief minister for having a room at the Taj West End in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy says he has kept is as a symbol of luck. “I have a room at Taj West End,” he says, according to News18. “When the Assembly election was announced last time, I was watching the results from the room there. I got a call from Ghulam Nabi Azad. I was told the party [Congress] has extended support for our party to form the government. I have kept that room considering it lucky.”
6.30 pm: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during the Lok Sabha elections that the loan waiver was a failure,” Kumaraswamy says, according to the Hindustan Times. “The money we’ve given for this scheme in two budgets is Rs 25,000 crore. I’ve not reduced outlay for any of the schemes announced by Congress leader Siddaramaiah in the 2018 February budget.”
6.21 pm: We have delivered on all our promises, the chief minister says.
#BIGNEWS: We have delivered on our promises every single time: CM @hd_kumaraswamy #KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis #KarnatakaFloorTest #StopNataka pic.twitter.com/ftI7a9Lt2l
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
6.18 pm: Kumaraswamy praises his officials for the government’s achievements. “From day 1 of this coalition government, there were media reports of an ‘unstable’ government,” he says, according to News18. “It is so difficult for even a stable government to work. How do officials work like this. Our officials have worked day and night. If I have achieved anything, it is the achievement of these officials.”
6.13 pm: Kumaraswamy says he is now ready to quit happily, News18 reports. “The other day, a channel ran a story saying we are pushing for load shedding...CM was pushing the state into darkness,” he says. “Should I have become the CM to get such a certificate? Today, I am ready to quit happily.”
6.05 pm: Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy apologises to Opposition members and voters for keeping them waiting for the trust vote.
#BIGNEWS: I apologise to Opposition and voters for keeping them waiting. I’m fed up of the current political developments. I'm ready to sacrifice my post: CM @HD_Kumaraswamy#KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis #KarnatakaFloorTest #StopNataka pic.twitter.com/Eox1ofCisI
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
6 pm: The police issue prohibitory orders under Section 144 across Bengaluru from 6 pm on Tuesday till 6 pm on Thursday. All bars, pubs and wine stores will be shut.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Alok Kumar: Today and tomorrow we are imposing Section 144 across the city.All pubs, wine shops will be closed till 25th. If anyone is found violating these rules, they will be punished pic.twitter.com/3De7410mDe
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2019
5.51 pm: Workers of the Congress-Janata Dal (secular) coalition and the BJP clash in Bengaluru, News9 reports.
#WATCH Karnataka: Congress workers protest outside an apartment on Race Course road in Bengaluru alleging that independent MLAs have been lodged here. pic.twitter.com/sNyTnr6bZR
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2019
#BIGNEWS: Clashes erupt between #Congress-JD(S) and #BJP workers outside Nitesh apartments at Race Course road in #Bengaluru where independent MLAs #RShankar and #HNagesh were spotted. pic.twitter.com/VDeXtTRjzM
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
5.50 pm: Siddaramaiah says the rebel MLAs will be disqualified.
#BIGNEWS: The rebels will be disqualified. Their political career will come to an end: Former CM @siddaramaiah #KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis #KarnatakaFloorTest #StopNataka pic.twitter.com/6FEreJmnUA
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
Siddaramaiah: Rs 25 crore, 30 crore, 50 crore, where is this money coming from? They(rebel MLAs) will be disqualified. Their political 'samadhi' will be built. Whoever defected since 2013 lost. The same fate awaits those who have resigned this time. It should happen. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/6mkdW77gkl
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2019
5.45 pm: BJP should accept that they are poaching MLAs, claims Siddaramaiah. He adds that “99% of the state believes the BJP is indulging in horse-trading”. He also questions the security arrangements that the rebel MLAs are being provided in Mumbai, News9 reports.
#BIGNEWS: #BJP leaders were seen accompanying rebel MLAs. Which party is in power in #Maharashtra? How are these rebels getting such security arrangements? : Former CM @siddaramaiah#KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis #KarnatakaFloorTest #StopNataka pic.twitter.com/rqcv81c0Fn
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
5.41 pm: “Governments will come and go but we need to preserve the constitution,” the former chief minister adds. “Wholesale and retail sale of MLAs is a shameful act.”
#BIGNEWS: Govts will come and go but we need to preserve the constitution. Wholesale and retail sale of MLAs is a shameful act: Former CM @siddaramaiah#KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis #KarnatakaFloorTest #StopNataka pic.twitter.com/ODPvvENUgL
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
5.38 pm: Speaker has the right to reject or accept resignations, Siddaramaiah says in the Assembly. “Speaker is the supreme authority in the Assembly. No court can interfere with the functioning of the Speaker,” he says, according to News9. “People will not accept undemocratic ways of the BJP. We are still unable to curb defection.”
5.35 pm: Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah says the Bharatiya Janata Party, which does not have a mandate is trying to gain backdoor entry, News9 reports.
“The coalition govt has been in existence for 14 months,” he says. “The people of #Karnataka didn’t give majority to any single party in 2018, it was a fractured verdict. In democracy the verdict of the people must be respected by all parties”
BJP indulged in horse-trading from the beginning, he adds. “You [BJP] should have fought and brought changes but clearly you [BJP] chose the backdoor to form the government. This is condemnable,” he adds.
3.18 pm: Tourism Minister SR Mahesh claims some people in the BJP will be happy if the rebel MLAs are disqualified.
#BIGNEWS: Some in #BJP will be happy if rebels are disqualified: Tourism Minister, Sa Ra Mahesh#KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis #KarnatakaFloorTest #StopNataka pic.twitter.com/7oxfvJzijI
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
3.11 pm: The Mumbai Police detained the Youth Congress workers who were protesting outside Renaissance Hotel in Powai, News18 reports.
3 pm: Youth Congress workers are protesting outside Renaissance Hotel in Mumbai, where the rebel MLAs are staying, News9 reports.
2.30 pm: ‘Bring rebel MLAs here, let them vote against the Government’: DK Shivakumar adds, according to the Hindustan Times.
2.25 pm: Shivakumar claims the media has portrayed politicians as thieves and jokers. “We cannot walk with respect anymore,” he adds. “I can’t even say that I’m a politician.”
#BIGNEWS: Media portrays us like jokers and calls us thieves. We cannot walk with respect anymore. I can’t even say that I’m a politician: Water Resources Minister, @DKShivakumar#KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis #KarnatakaFloorTest #StopNataka pic.twitter.com/AP6McR0zqM
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
2.20 pm: The water resources minister claims he could have “easily locked up rebel MLAs in a room” but did not do it because of his friendships, News9 reports. “I’m hurt by rebel MLAs’ conduct. I was forced to stand on the street in Mumbai,” he adds.
#BIGNEWS: I could have easily locked up rebel MLAs in a room, but I did not do it because of the friendship: Water Resources Minister, @DKShivakumar#KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis #KarnatakaFloorTest #StopNataka pic.twitter.com/Im5X8rlkTh
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
2.15 pm: DK Shivakumar claims the Bharatiya Janata Party has destroyed the political future of the rebel MLAs. He adds that they will also betray the BJP.
#BIGNEWS: #BJP will also face the backstabbing like us: Water Resources Minister, @DKShivakumar#KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis #KarnatakaFloorTest #StopNataka pic.twitter.com/Zuik0aY5nR
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
#BIGNEWS: Nothing is permanent in politics, anything can happen. Rebels will backstab BJP like they did to us: Water Resources Minister, @DKShivakumar#KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis #KarnatakaFloorTest #StopNataka pic.twitter.com/FZpHpi2fXv
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
2.02 pm: BJP state chief BS Yeddyurappa says the government’s counsel has assured the Supreme Court that trust vote will be held on Tuesday, reports Hindustan times. “Siddaramaiah is very knowledgeable about law but when the Supreme Court says the MLAs can’t be compelled, you cannot go against it. Besides, the rebels have resubmitted their resignations,” says Yeddyurappa
1.58 pm: “I’m supporting JD(S) only because of my commitment,” says Congress MLA DK Shivakumar, reports News9.
1.50 pm: Siddaramaiah says BJP leader Jagadish Shettar said Congress MLA DK Shivakumar was misleading the House. “It’s not Shivakumar but the BJP that has misled,” Siddaramaiah says, according to Hindustan Times. “He is only pleading with them to rectify their mistake, don’t unnecessarily fall into the trap they’ve laid.”
1.46 pm: Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah says DK Shivakumar tried to instil some sense in the MLAs by reminding them that BJP has misled them, reports News9.
1.43 pm: “I’m not ready to call the MLAs in Mumbai disgruntled or unsatisfied,” says DK Shivakumar, according to News9. “They are more than satisfied MLAs. State BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa’s courage and willpower should be appreciated as he tried Operation Kamala seven times.”
1.41 pm: Congress MLA DK Shivakumar says rebel MLAs told him that they will be made ministers, reports News9. “I warned rebel MLAs that BJP is duping them.”
1.11 pm: “If floor test is not held today [Tuesday], we will press for an operative direction tomorrow [Wednesday],” says counsel for the two MLAs who moved Supreme Court, Mukul Rohatgi, reports News9.
1.05 pm: Home Minister MB Patil arrives at Taj West End to hold talks with Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, reports News9.
1.03 pm: Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who represented the two MLAs in the Supreme Court, says the top court passed an order saying it was optimistic that Speaker will hold the floor test on Tuesday, reports ANI. “I hope the Speaker realises what his position is, what Constitution obliges him to do.”
Mukul Rohatgi, representing #Karnataka rebel MLAs in SC: SC has passed an order saying that Court is optimistic that Speaker will hold floor test today; has kept the matter for tomorrow. I hope the Speaker realizes what his position is, what Constitution obliges him to do. pic.twitter.com/Yz9eeE9iDw
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2019
12.29 pm: BJP criticises Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy for failing to attend Assembly session. “Session for Karnataka trust vote has begun,” a party statement said. “But CM HD Kumaraswamy is resting at his Taj West End hotel. His message is clear. He will continue to loot & waste tax payers money to the very last second as CM. He [and] his party will be answerable to Kannadigas very soon.”
Session for #KarnatakaTrustVote has begun
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) July 23, 2019
But CM @hd_kumaraswamy is resting at his Taj West end hotel
His message is clear
He will continue to loot & waste tax payers money to the very last second as CM
He & his party will be answerable to Kannadigas very soon
12.25 pm: The Supreme Court bench, while adjourning the hearing of MLAs’ plea to Wednesday, says Speaker of the Assembly is optimistic that the trust vote will be held during the course of Tuesday, reports News18.
12.18 pm: Janata Dal (Secular) MLA Shivalinge Gowda says BJP state chief BS Yeddyurappa should clarify that rebel MLAs will not be given ministerial berths nor be inducted into the BJP, reports News9.
#BIGNEWS: State #BJP chief @BSYBJP should clarify that rebel MLAs will not be given any Ministerial berth nor should they be inducted into the BJP: JD(S) MLA Shivalinge Gowda#KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis #KarnatakaFloorTest pic.twitter.com/um4VV9OLyN
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
12.07 pm: The Supreme Court adjourns hearing of the MLAs’ plea for Wednesday, reports Bar and Bench.
12.05 pm: The Supreme Court begins hearing a plea of two Independent MLAs, seeking a direction to Karnataka Assembly Speaker to hold a floor test. Senior Advocate AM Singhvi, who appears for Speaker, says the debate on trust vote may end today or latest by tomorrow. “Floor test will eventually happen,” he says, according to News18.
#KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis case begins in the #SupremeCourt: Sr adv Mukul Rohatgi appears for two independent MLAs.
— Utkarsh Anand (@utkarsh_aanand) July 23, 2019
Justice Deepak Gupta suggests why not hear it tomorrow if there is no floor test happens by the end of today.
11.53 am: A meeting between the lawyers of rebel MLAs and Speaker is underway, reports The News Minute. Speaker refuses to allow BJP delegation led by Madhuswamy to join the meeting.
11.45 am: Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar leaves his seat in the House to meet lawyers of rebel MLAs who were summoned to his office. “I had given time to MLAs at 11 am to come and meet me,” he says, according to India Today. “Their lawyers have come to meet me.”
#BIGNEWS: Speaker #RameshKumar leaves from the session to meet rebel MLAs' lawyers at his chamber.#StopNataka #KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis #KarnatakaFloorTest pic.twitter.com/pg2pmB5dTd
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
11.40 am: Thirteen rebel MLAs write to Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar asking him for four weeks’ time to respond to his summons on the disqualification petition moved against them by Congress leader Siddaramaiah, Hindustan Times reports.
Ramesh Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumathahalli, BA Basavaraj, BC Patil, Pratapgouda Patil, Shivaram Hebbar, ST Somashekhar, MTB Nagaraj, and Munirathna of the Congress and K Gopalaiah, AH Vishwanath and Narayana Gowda of the Janata Dal (S) have written to the Speaker. Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party MLA R Shankar also sent his request to the Speaker.
11.35 am: Congress leader Siddaramaiah arrives at the Vidhana Soudha, reports News9. Janata Dal (Secular) MLAs also arrived late to the Assembly.
#BIGNEWS: CLP leader @siddaramaiah arrives at #VidhanaSoudha to attend the Assembly session. #StopNataka #KarnatakaFloorTest #KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis pic.twitter.com/dF4Nc5uPE0
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) July 23, 2019
11.32 am: BJP MLA Madhuswamy says coalition leaders are raising irrelevant issues and their aim was to delay and drag the session, reports News9.
11.30 am: Khader challenges BJP legislators to accept that the resignation of MLAs was orchestrated by them, Hindustan Times reports. “If the BJP accepts it, a trust vote can be held immediately.”
11.27 am: Congress MLA UT Khader says BJP is misleading the people, reports Hindustan Times. “We know politics is a game of numbers and not morals,” he says. “Let them accept this. Not only are you misleading us, the Speaker, the people but you’re also misusing the Governor’s office. The reason why Supreme Court order is being discussed is because it affects the coalition. This will affect every state. Then there were orders from the Governor.”
10.20 am: BJP leader Jagadish Shettar claims it is the final day for the Kumaraswamy government. “We believed yesterday was the last day but because of the ‘milapi kushti’ in between ruling party and others, they postponed it for one day...We will see what happens and if division of votes takes place, this government will definitely be defeated,” the former chief minister tells ANI.
10.15 am: BJP MLAs arrive at the Vidhana Soudha for the Assembly session. Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar arrived a few minutes ago.
#Karnataka: BS Yeddyurappa and other BJP MLAs arrive at Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru. HD Kumaraswamy government will face floor test in the Assembly today. pic.twitter.com/hLqULs67Uw
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2019
10.10 am: BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje expresses confidence that the Kumaraswamy government will fall. “They don’t have the numbers,” she tells ANI. “They are a minority government. [Rebel] MLAs are in Mumbai, they don’t want to come.”