Adding more drama in the ongoing Karnataka crisis, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators staged a night-long sit-in in the Karnataka Assembly after Congress-JD(S) coalition government dragging its feet on a confidence motion. BJP MLAs were seen dining together and sleeping on the green floor of the Assembly.
In the meantime, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala has written to CM HD Kumaraswamy, asking him to prove a majority of the government on the floor of the House by 1:30 pm today. It should be noted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had earlier in the day, met the Governor of the State over the issue.
#WATCH Karnataka: BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa sleeps at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. BJP legislators of the state are on an over night 'dharna' at the Assembly over their demand of floor test. pic.twitter.com/e4z6ypzJPz
— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2019
Speaking to media about the quick turn of events, BJP State Chief YS Yeddyurappa said that we are demanding nothing but voting on the motion but the Chief Minister is reluctant to take it up as he has confirmed himself that he has lost the confidence of the house and the people’, he added everybody knows Congress-JD(S) has only 98 MLAs, we have 105 MLAs in the Assembly.
BS Yeddyurappa, BJP: We are demanding voting on the motion but the Chief Minister is reluctant to take it up as he has confirmed himself that he has lost confidence of the house and the people. Everybody knows Congress-JD(S) have only 98 MLAs, we have 105. #KarnatakaFloorTest pic.twitter.com/1Gs46NIuJI
— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2019
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announcement came after the house was called adjourned by the Karnataka Assembly KR Ramesh Kumar.
In the meantime, Congress Minister DK Shivakumar slammed BJP of misusing the Top Court verdict. Talking to ANI, Shivakumar said, ‘Today on the floor of the house, MLA Madhu Swamy (BJP) said ‘the same Supreme Court which helped you to sit there is helping us’ it means whatever judgment came out of SC, he has categorically misused it. We respect SC, they’re not helping anyone’.
READ: Karnataka Crisis: CM HD Kumaraswamy moves confidence motion amid heated debate
Speaking in the House, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, earlier in the day, slammed BJP and accused it of toppling the government. He made the accusation while moving the confidence motion in the Karnataka Assembly.
However, Congress leader SG Siddharamaiah asserted the need for clarification of the Supreme Court’s verdict. Siddaramaiah said that because of the SC order, rebels would not appear in the House and If we go ahead with the confidence motion, it will be a big loss to the coalition government.
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