Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Monday proved his majority in the Assembly by winning the confidence motion by voice vote. With the numbers game favouring the BJP government, the Congress and JD(S) did not press for division on the one-line motion moved by Mr. Yediyurappa that the House expresses confidence in his three-day old Ministry.
As the Opposition did not press for division, Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar declared that the motion had been passed by voice vote.
Here are the updates with inputs from our Bengaluru Bureau.
CLP leader Siddaramaiah took to Twitter to thank Mr. Ramesh Kumar for his contributions as a Speaker.
"Shri. K R Ramesh Kumar served excellently as a Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly without any prejudice. His honest decisions has set an example in the country showing how a Speaker should conduct himself. I sincerely thank & wish him for all his contributions as Speaker," he wrote.
Assembly adjourned till 5p.m.
Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar announces resignation
Speaker Ramesh Kumar resigns as Speaker of the Assembly with immediate effect.
He says he has been the Speaker of the House for the past 14 months and 4 days, and was elected unanimously. "I have worked as per the Constitution, keeping the people in mind. When certain political developments occur, we need to take decisions carefully. We are small people and I am lucky that I was fortunate to occupy this Chair. Our decisions should not in any way bring disrepute to the Chair," he said.
"After the formation of the coalition government, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and K.C. Venugopal asked me to become the Speaker, to which I agreed. That day, Mr. Yediyurappa called and said BJP had got S. Suresh Kumar to file nomination for the post. But they withdrew their nomination and elected me unanimously. Am thankful to all of them. I thank all the officials of the Speaker's office. I also thank the media," Mr. Kumar said.
Mr. Kumar added that the root of corruption in this country is in our elections, and said that it will be hypocrisy to speak of rooting out corruption without electoral reforms. "I request the House to discuss the issue of electoral reforms and send a resolution to the Parliament. We must also think of political parties," he said.
"I have not created any history and I have no such illusions. The tenth schedule needs to be relooked at - it is not equipped to prevent defections today," he said.
"This House can ask the Parliament to relook into the matter, but not amend it. But if we do it, we will be putting moral pressure for an amendment. But we can do what is within our purview. Lokayukta Act says all elected representatives must declare their assets before June 30. But there is no penal provision, then why keep such a law?," he asked.
To the current CM, the Speaker said: "I stand by what I once said of Mr. Yediyurappa. As power comes, people come and hang around you. Don't be under the illusion that they are your real well wishers," he said.
Speaker Ramesh Kumar thanks all the members of the House, and appeals to them to bring electoral reforms to life by adopting a resolution.
"Tenth schedule needs a whole new look. It should meet the purpose for which it was made," said the Speaker.
Finance Bill and Supplementary Budget passed
As the leader of the House, Mr. Yediyurappa moved the Appropriation Bill, Finance Bill over the budget. He said that the Bill was drafted by the previous government and his government has not changed a single line. He seeks vote on account for three months on the State budget.
Siddaramaiah said that the government must take a vote on account for the remaining eight months as a vote on account for only next three months may hamper development works. "I advise the government to take a vote on account for the rest of the fiscal year," he said.
Speaker Ramesh Kumar puts the vote on account to vote. The Finance Bill is passed unanimously.
On supplementary budget
CM Yediyurappa seeks to pass supplementary demands, but Mr. Siddaramaiah opposes it, saying it cannot be passed without debate. Mr. Siddaramaiah says he is not opposing supplementary demands but is only requesting a debate in the coming Assembly session.
Members at the Karnataka Assembly on July 29, 2019
BJP senior MLA J.C. Madhuswamy said the supplementary estimates include funds from NDRF and calamity relief funds, which are very much required for the State immediately.
Treasury Benches argue that it is a question of emergency funds and drought in the State. "It is a supplementary budget prepared by H.D. Kumaraswamy, not a line has been changed. I don't understand why the Opposition is pressing for a debate," Mr. Madhuswamy said.
While Congress opposes passing of supplementary estimates, JD(S) strikes a discordant note. Former Minister G.T. Devegowda says since it had been prepared by their own government, he does not see anything wrong in the estimates being passed today itself.
Yediyurappa seeks approval for supplementary estimates and the House gives its approval.
Yediyurappa wins trust vote
Replying to the responses from the Opposition, CM Yediyurappa said that it would be worthwhile becoming Chief Minister when he gives administration that the people of the State will accept.
"If my govt takes any decision that you think is against the interest of the people of the State, you can contact me on telephone and I will immediately correct it," he said.
The motion was put to voice vote and the opposition did not press for division of vote. The motion was passed on voice vote.
B.S. Yediyurappa wins trust vote.
Provide evidence to support your allegations of poor governance , says Kumaraswamy
Speaking in the House, former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy refuted Mr. Yediyurappa's claim that the administration had been in a standstill state for over an year.
"He says that as the Leader of Opposition, he has seen how the administration has collapsed. I demand that he place before the Assembly how the administration had collapsed. Making such serious allegations lightly is not a good culture," said Mr. Kumaraswamy.
'I answer to my conscience'
"I need to answer to my conscience, not to any of you. In the past 14 months, I have tried my best to respond to the problems of people. I thank God for giving you an opportunity to look for the records yourself and tell the truth to the people about how my government tried with all honesty to waive off farm loans," he said.
"The President has given his approval for the private loan waiver act. Today morning also a woman from Davanagere approached me saying a money-lender has been demanding ₹5 lakh payback for a loan of ₹30,000. I request the government to ensure rules are framed for the Act and it is widely publicised to the public across the State to ensure writing off of these loans," Mr. Kumaraswamy said.
In an obvious dig, Mr. Kumaraswamy chided Mr. Yediyurappa that he did not thank the rebel MLAs who were the biggest reason he became the Chief Minister. "BJP has now brought them to the streets. Now I don't know when they will become devils and come back at you," he said.
Praises the Speaker
He condemned the BJP leaders' remarks on Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar's decision to disqualify MLAs. "I would like to remind how in 2010 BJP misused the office of Speaker to subvert democracy. Our Speaker today has not acted in haste and has upheld democracy," said the JD(U) leader.
" I oppose the confidence motion as the government has come to power through unconstitutional means," says Mr. Kumaraswamy, for "you have come to power through immoral means".
"I hope you put an end to political instability and not try to get more of our MLAs to resign. We are not going to try to bring down your government in haste. We will support the government on the good measures," he said.
Welcome Yediyurappa's statement that he won't practice the politics of vendetta: Siddaramaiah
CLP leader Siddaramaiah stands up to speak.
"I can tell how Yediyurappa became Chief Minister, but I won't since we have discussed it at length for four days in this House. I congratulate him for becoming the CM and welcome his statement that he won't practice the politics of vendetta," says Mr. Siddaramaiah.
"But the Chief Minister said the administration has come to a standstill in the State and he will restore it - but that's not true. Administration has not come to a standstill. The coalition government has honestly tried to implement the common minimum programme. We have waived off farm loans and also brought in an act to waive off personal loans. The coalition government has continued all programmes that my government had started," said the former CM.
Referring to the goals set and achieved during his tenure and the government that followed him, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that he had taken steps to helps the farmers and weavers communities.
"You have announced that the State government will give an additional ₹4000 from the State exchequer apart from the ₹6000 under the PM Kisan Samman Yojana," he said.
"But I would like to remind the house that in the last budget I presented in 2018 I had introduced a scheme called "Raita Belaku" under which dry land farmers would get a cash subsidy of ₹10,000. But it was not implemented due to farm loan waiver. I had also waived the loans of weavers. I would like to congratulate him for reitirating these schemes," he added.
'Yediyurappa does not have people's mandate'
"Yediyurappa said he would give a government as per people's mandate. But I would like to remind Yediyurappa that BJP has no mandate. Yediyurappa has been in politics from 1983. Both of us entered the House the same year. But it's sad that he never once got the mandate of the people," said the CLP leader.
"In 2010 he got 110 seats and in 2018 he got 104 seats. We also like you to be Chief Minister for this term. But there is no guarantee that you will complete the term. Can Yediyurappa give a stable government with these many "rebel" MLAs? I don't think so," he concluded.
I believe in the motto 'forget and forgive': Yediyurappa
Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has moved the confidence motion in the Assembly. Facing an Assembly with a truncated strength, Yediyurappa moved a one-line motion that said the House expresses confidence in the Ministry headed by him.
"Neither Siddaramaiah nor Kumaraswamy practiced politics of vendetta, which is welcomed. I assure this House that I will also not do any politics of vendetta. I believe in the motto 'forget and forgive'," says Mr. Yediyurappa.
The CM thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Amit Shah and working president J.P. Nadda before moving on to issues faced by the State.
"There is a severe drought in the State and rain deficiency in 86 taluks. The administration has broken down in the State. Even the Finance Bill was not passed due to the political crisis. I will work towards restoring administration. My priority will always be farmers and weavers," he said.
Disqualified MLAs to move SC
Disqualified Karnataka MLAs Ramesh Jarkhiholi and Mahesh Kumathalli challenge their disqualification under the anti-defection law in the Supreme Court, reports our legal correspondent Krishnadas Rajagopal from New Delhi.
R. Ramesh is also expected to move SC today against his disqualification from the Karnataka Assembly under the Xth Schedule. Other disqualified MLAs also to move once they get their respective orders.
BJP expected to have a smooth sailing in Karnataka trust vote
The Opposition is not expected to mount a serious challenge to the government on Monday, as many believe that “it is now only a numbers game in which the BJP has the upper hand.” However, the principal Opposition, Congress, seems to be mired in confusion. The party is yet to elect a leader who will be the Leader of the Opposition.
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah is expected to lead the party in the Assembly on Monday. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad is scheduled to reach the city on Monday to hold parleys and select the Leader of the Opposition.
What if BJP MLAs vote against Yediyurappa, asks Siddaramaiah
“What if the Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs themselves vote against Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa?” former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said here on Sunday.
Mr. Siddaramaiah, who was in Mysuru for the third death anniversary of his son Rakesh, told presspersons that Mr. Yediyurappa does not enjoy a majority in the House.
“Only when a majority of the total number of members present in the House support him during the motion of confidence will he be able to secure a majority. What if the BJP MLAs themselves vote against him?” he asked.
Downplys remark
Mr. Siddaramaiah, however, sought to downplay his own remark by claiming that he was not anticipating it.
“But, why can’t it happen?” he asked.
I have behaved consistently: Speaker
Legislative Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar, who disqualified 14 Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) MLAs on Sunday, said he had been behaving consistently and in a specified manner over the last few days.
Defending his decision to disqualify the legislators, the Speaker said: “This cannot be drama. On Thursday night, when I disqualified three legislators, I promised to deliver order on the rest of them in a couple of days, which I have done now.”
CLP meet today
The Congress Legislature Party will meet under the chairmanship of Siddaramaiah on Monday, ahead of the special session of the Assembly in which Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa is set to move the motion of confidence. The CLP meeting, in the Vidhana Soudha at 9 a.m., is not only expected to discuss strategies for the session but also the scenario post disqualification of 11 party rebels.
