Cong-JD(S) coalition 'survives', House adjourned till Monday

BENGALURU: Karnataka's Congress-Janata Dal-Secular coalition lives to fight another day as the Speaker has adjourned the Assembly till Monday, despite a new deadline from the governor to chief minister HD Kumaraswamy to prove the government's majority on Friday. "Kindly prove your majority by the end of today," Governor Vajubhai Vala had written in his second letter since Thursday to Kumaraswamy. The chief minister said: "The second love letter has hurt me." The coalition government says it is bound to follow only the Speaker, who approved a prolonged debate before the vote. The coalition has also asked the Supreme Court for clarification on an order that gave Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar the freedom to decide on the status of rebel MPs who have pushed the government to the brink.

In his second letter since Thursday night, the governor said detailed debates and discussions were held only to delay the floor test. "When the allegations of horse-trading are widely made and I am receiving many such complaints, it is constitutionally imperative that the floor test is completed without any delay and Friday itself," he wrote.

On a complaint from the BJP, the governor had on Thursday written to the Chief Minister: "You have lost the confidence of the house... This cannot go on in a democratic set-up governed by the constitution of India...Under these circumstances, I require you to prove your majority on the floor of the house on or before 1.30 pm Friday."

The BJP has alleged that the coalition is indulging in filibuster after losing the support of 18 MPs over the past two weeks.

Kumaraswamy, in a long speech, accused the opposition BJP of offering "Rs. 40-50 crore" to lawmakers to switch allegiances.

As the BJP's BS Yeddyurappa insisted on an immediate trust vote, Kumaraswamy said: "After 14 months (in power), we have come to the final stage. Let's have a discussion. You can still form the government. Nothing urgent. You can do it on Monday or Tuesday also. I am not going to misuse power."

The coalition also alleged that the governor was under pressure to recommend president's rule.

Top central government sources, however, dismissed the allegation, saying there was "no question" of central rule in Karnataka. "How long can they avoid a trust vote? One week to two weeks? We are watching the situation," said sources.

In protest against the Speaker's decision to end proceedings without a trust vote on Thursday, BJP MPs had spent the night in the assembly, eating dinner and sleeping on the floor of the house.

The Supreme Court has said the speaker would have the final say on the resignations of the rebel MPs. The top court also said on Wednesday that the rebels cannot be forced to attend the assembly, prompting the coalition to seek clarification on whether or not they can be disqualified for defying a whip.

Sixteen legislators - 13 from the Congress and three from JDS - have resigned in the last two weeks, and two independent legislators have withdrawn their support to the coalition government.

One Congress rebel, Ramalinga Reddy, appears to have returned to the party fold.