Prove majority by 1.30pm today, Karnataka governor tells HDK govt

BENGALURU: In a dramatic twist to the ongoing political crisis in Karnataka, governor Vajubhai R Vala on Thursday sent out two missives — first to speaker KR Ramesh Kumar to wrap up trust vote in the assembly by the end of the day, followed by another one to chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, setting a deadline of 1.30pm on Friday to prove his majority.
The missives overshadowed the trust vote moved by Kumaraswamy on a day when Congress’s strength in the House shrunk by two more MLAs: While Shrimanth Patil left the resort where Congress MLAs have been staying to get admitted to a Mumbai hospital, B Nagendra continued to remain in a Bengaluru hospital, where he is being treated for a heart ailment.As many as 20 MLAs didn’t turn up for the trust vote. These include the rebels holed up in Mumbai.
The “messages” from Raj Bhavan set the stage for a standoff between Vala and the government, with Congress-JD(S) coalition MLAs pointing out that the governor and BJP are speaking the same language.
The first of the governor’s messages was relayed to the House by the speaker amid opposition from the treasury benches. The ruling coalition tried its best to defer the trust vote indefinitely, with Congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah and his senior party colleagues seeking clarity on the Supreme Court’s ruling that rebel MLAs could not be compelled to attend the House proceedings.
There were three adjournments, acrimony and repeated disruptions by slogan-shouting Congress members before the proceedings were adjourned for the day. This triggered the governor’s second letter to the CM, with a copy marked to the speaker. Vala said he was compelled to intervene after the vote of confidence moved by Kumaraswamy was stalled and the assembly was adjourned without finality.

A showdown is expected between the government and Raj Bhavan following the governor’s intervention and the matter is likely to land in court as there are diverse views on the governor’s role in such matters. While the governor cited Article 175(2) of the Constitution on sending messages for consideration to the House, the coalition members said he could intervene only to promulgate ordinances (Article 213) or when the constitutional machinery fails (Article 356). The ruling coalition has accused BJP of using the governor’s office to topple the ruling dispensation. After the speaker read out Vala’s message in the House, minister Krishna Byregowda said: “The wish of BJP and the message of the governor to the speaker are same in their intention. It might be a coincidence but still...”
The speaker, on his part, said there was nothing wrong with the governor sending the note but the protests continued. With the trust vote barely progressing and the governor’s “request” going unheard, leader of the opposition BS Yeddyurappa said BJP MLAs would hold a day-and-night dharna in the House.
Earlier, Siddaramaiah raised a point of order, saying the SC ruling had curtailed his power to issue a whip. “It is a serious issue and will have a far more serious ramifications if I am barred from issuing whip to our MLAs. It might even lead to collapse of the democratically elected coalition government. To avoid it, the speaker must defer the trust vote motion till a clarity on the matter is emerged,” Siddaramaiah said, adding that the trust vote was not in order if the MLAs were allowed to stay away despite a whip.
BJP said if the power of any political party is curtailed, it must take up the matter in court, and urged the speaker to continue with the debate on the trust vote with priority. “Today’s proceedings must restrict to trust vote and should not discuss any other matter,” BJP MLA J C Madhuswamy said, accusing Congress and JD(S) of clinging onto power despite losing numbers. The speaker said the issuing of whip does not come under his purview and it is left to political parties to decide. “But as far as deferring the confidence motion, I will consult advocate general and take a decision,” he said, turning down BJP’s demand for taking up the confidence motion for debate.